Archives for July 2010

Sharif Wells-Soler is a 17-year-old high school senior who is outgoing and composed. He has multiple backgrounds, including Black, Cuban, Chinese, white and Native American. The most embarrassing thing that happened to him during his high school experience was when he got crossed in a basketball game and fell in front of the whole school, then ended up losing the game. When Sharif gets older he wants to be a pharmacist. He also stated his greatest memory was seeing his sister graduate from college. It influenced him to do more. He hates ignorance but fancies the color red.

If Brandon Moss was exemplified by anything, it would definitely be his guitar. Calling the instrument his “extra arm,” the 17-year-old Bronx resident wouldn’t be lonely on a desert island if he had his guitar – and his ex-girlfriend. He’s concerned with his neighborhood’s gang activity and gives himself credit for being a nice guy among the violence.

Although he has been skateboarding for more than four years, Daniel Kounin, 17, finds writing to be an equally interesting hobby. He believes that skateboarding and writing are less antithetical to each other than most people believe them to be. While skateboarding involves an arrogant willingness to injure oneself in order to land a trick, it also involves keen insight and open mindfulness in order to detach oneself from the dangerous aspect of skateboarding and to indulge in the fun of it. Skateboarding, like writing, requires a passion to commit yourself to hard and tedious work, as well as a willingness to pick yourself up and start with a fresh mind in spite of being frustrated by your failure to meet your goals. In short, Daniel is a highly motivated and interesting individual.

At 17, Suki Wong is an incoming senior at Baruch High School. She’d love to own a funny dog in her a peaceful neighborhood on Staten Island but worries that it would die rather quickly. Her interests lie in baking so maybe someday she’ll open a bakery. Until that happens she hopes to attend Baruch College and pursue a career in accounting or pharmacy.

As a 16-year-old sophomore at Murry Bergtraum, Jeffrey Chen livea on the border of Brooklyn and Queens in Ozone Park. His philosophy in life is that anything that goes up must comes down. However, that doesn’t stop Jeffrey from wanting to become a doctor or even his lifelong passion to become a surgeon. He takes his education seriously. Though he may not feel like he has many role models, he will strive to make himself a man and show others that they can do the same as him.

Cindy Wen, 17, grew up in the west side of Manhattan. She is shy, quiet and sweet and because of her Chinese culture holds traditional values. Her grandmother prays for her good luck every day. She attends Baruch High School and her parents motivate her to be successful. She’s aiming high to be an accountant, but is still unsure. However, she is very certain she loves math.