Taylor Woods is a 17-year-old rising senior from Rosedale,Queens. She attends American Sign Language High School, where she learned to sign during her freshman year. Although Taylor holds a passion for writing, she aspires to become a professional photographer. Her favorite hobbies include shopping, social networking, traveling and partying. Her most prized possession in her closet is her Gucci bag, which is something she cannot live without. This free-spirited teen says her most embarrassing moment occurred when she was in the train station, and pennies fell out of her shoe in front of a large group of boys. Taylor says that her reason behind writing is to relieve stress and get out all of her feelings. Although she does not know if the career of journalism is for her, she knows it is something that will always be a part of her life.
Ethan Barness
Ethan Barnes, is a 17-year old from the Upper East Side. He attends the IInstitute for Collaborative Education where he is a rising senior. He has won ten medals in high school policy debate and has played baseball for nine years. He has a passion for hip-hop music and dubstep is his guilty pleasure. He has a love for mafia movies, especially Godfather 2.
Alexus Cayetano
Alexus Cayetano, 17, lives in the Bronx. She is currently a student at Laguardia High School and enjoys her English class. Alexus enjoys the literature explored in her English class, and is also passionate about her dance major. Alexus also enjoys shopping on a daily basis; particularly in a store called Topshop. Alexus is obsessed with actor Hayden Christensen, and believes she would attack him if she met him. Alexus Cayetano is a adventurous and outgoing young adult. Alexus never holds personal grudges and hopes for world peace.
Kevin Bakry
Kevin Bakry is a 17-year-old who lives in ManhattanâÂÂs Lower East Side and an incoming senior of New York City Lab School. He has visited Egypt many times to visit relatives. When heâÂÂs not traveling, Kevin can be found running cross-country, listening to Joy Division or being part of his school drama team, the Lab Theater Company. He has performed in in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”
Nadia Amrani
Nadia Amrani, 16, was born in the United States but grew up in Mexico up until she was 7. The junior lives in Astoria, Queens and attends Murry Bergtraum High School for Business Careers. Because of her light complexion and Spanish language skills, people often assume that she is from Spain. In fact, her mother is of Mexican and French descent and her father is Moroccan. She enjoys Mexican food, sushi, Chinese food and drinking coconut water. Someday she hopes she can call herself an archaeologist or anthropologist.
Maya Ana Callender
A laid back and relaxed city girl with a passion for ballroom dancing, Maya Ana Callender, 17, attends the Institute for Collaborative Education in the Lower East Side. She is completely invested in sports, specifically football. Loving the thrill and action of the game, Maya hopes to eventually have a career reporting from the sidelines for the New York Jets. When sheâÂÂs not rooting for her favorite teams, Maya loves hanging out with her family and friends. She loves reading and looks up to reporter Pam Oliver. Maya canâÂÂt wait to leave high school and hopes to attend Boston College, Syracuse University or West Virginia University for journalism. She has a large dream to become somebody that people can look up to.
The Beginning of a Tremendous Summer
I thought that I had my entire summer all figured out. My plan was to make a summer bucket list that would be completely checked off before I was forced to return to school, and than write about it. I did not have any responsibilities, nothing waking me up at five in the morning, and this felt delightful.
A week had passed, and I only had a title for my summer bucket list. I was bored of freedom, so bored that I found myself documenting my life on Facebook. I spent my days sleeping, or watching the never-ending marathons of Spongebob.
Then, I got a phone call. The call revealed that my name was no longer on a waiting list, and that my summer was no longer unwritten. Was I disappointed? Slightly. Honestly, who wants to wake up early? But the feeling quickly disappeared when i realized that I would be spending the majority of my summer doing the one thing I adore, writing.
Maybe I’m not cut out for the world of journalism, or I’ll do better as a novelist. Maybe these six weeks will help me walk into my school with ideas for my Meager magazine that will transform it into a major publication. I don’t know what will come out of this. Who does? All I know is that my summer has been changed by a phone call, and I might as well make the best of it.
Mixed
Chelsea Candelario
Seventeen-old Chelsea Candelario, a student at High School of Fashion Industries, lives Harlem with her family. The straight-A teen enjoys updating her Tumblr and spending time with her family. She had her share of memorable experiences. She met people from British royalty, such as Prince William, and the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. She visited the Galapos Islands andEcuador and one day wishes to go to her family’s homeland, Puerto Rico.
Laura Seidman
—