Archives for July 2011

   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 is a 17-year-old who lives in Manhattan’s Lower East Side and an incoming senior of New York City Lab School. He has visited Egypt many times to visit relatives. When he’s 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.”

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.

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.

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    Life is too short. So when you are faced with hard decisions that can effect your life and everyday actions, it can sometimes cause a dilemma. When I applied to the summer program at Baruch for journalism, I was ecstatic. My school’s newspaper is not up to par with the journalism world, and the only other newspaper my school has is Liner Notes. Liner Notes is just a fun newspaper filled with information, like the latest music and top Ben&Jerry’s flavors. 
    Needless to say, when I heard about this opportunity I was thrilled to know that I could pursue something that I was passionate about, and leave with the ability to write well and gain more insight about journalism. So when I found out I was accepted, I was literary bouncing off the walls. Even though, I knew in the back off my head that I turned down an amazing educational program at the University of Maine, in Farmington(about an hour drive from Portland). 
    The Maine program is a band camp that specializes in jazz. It is a week long program that consists of lessons,group ensembles,ear training and watching concerts each night preformed by the staff. This program is a lot of fun and really teaches you about music, and has helped me drastically improve as a musician. Luck was on my side when the director of the music camp had called and informed me that they could accommodate me, if I went from Tuesday to Friday. I  was immediately thrilled, because there was a chance that i could attend both educational programs, something that I was willing to do. Even though this would mean catching up at the music camp and catching up at the journalism program, it was a risk I was willing to take. I was so fortunate to be accepted into these programs, and as a result will have a really fun and educational summer. 

Michelle Soto is an involved 15-year-old student from Far Rockaway, Queens. She will be a junior at Uncommon Charter High School in Crown Heights, Brooklyn in the fall. Aside from singing and acting in school productions, she is the chief editor of her school’s newspaper, and still finds time to read a good book, all while staying on top of her school work. This aspiring Communications Major, loves the color purple and spending time with the people she holds close to her.