THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF BRONX ACADEMY OF LETTERS Â SUMMER / JUNE 2017
theraven / MR. BERNS / MR. BROOKS/ BRITNEY CRUZ / MR. HAQUE / JASHERAH NALLS / MR. ROSE MS. MASCIOLO / PRINCIPAL BRANDON / MS. SUAREZ /
+ FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH WRITERIN-RESIDENCE CANDICE ILOH
The interview issue
SUMMER 2017
table of contents
after the editor's letter [1] there are interviews with
MR. BERNS [3] MR. BROOKS [6] BRITNEY CRUZ [9] MR. HAQUE [12] CANDICE ILOH [14] JASHERAH NALLS [18] MR. ROSE [21] MS. MASCIOLO [25] PRINCIPAL BRANDON [28] MS. SUAREZ [32]
SUMMER 2017
letter from the editor
YOU GUYS, LOL. I SEE THAT YOU’VE SURVIVED THAT HUGE PIC OF MY FACE ON THE COVER. CONGRATS, HA!
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Wow look you us… LOOK AT YOU! You’ve made it to the end of yet another school year. Pat yourself on the back for that, man. Not everybody makes it. Not everybody survives. And you know what, I’m super proud of you for it. Finishing something you started isn’t easy. Even if you had to do it kicking and screaming. Even if you fought it the whole way through because you just didn’t feel like it. Trust me, I feel you. Life and school is a lot like writing. Doesn’t always feel good. But you’re better the more you push through. Just like the brave writers who interviewed the people you’re about to get to learn a little more about in this issue. Want to know a secret? Most, if not all of them, DREADED the idea of having to conduct interviews with people they previously did not know that well. I wasn’t surprised. Most people are afraid of walking up to someone and talking to them, asking them personal questions about their lives. And who could blame us? In 2017 you can just google somebody or roll up on their instagram or snapchat and learn it all.
But let’s be honest. You can’t learn everything from the internet. Like facial expressions in the moment. Voice inflection when the person responds to your super personal curiosity (a.k.a. Nosiness, ha!). There’s really nothing like asking the person you’re curious about DIRECTLY. Absolutely nothing. And if you didn’t know before. You’re about to learn today. Want to know a secret? Most, if not all of them, DREADED the idea of having to conduct interviews with people they In the next few pages, we’re gonna get a well. I wasn’t previously did not know that little personal with a few of the faces surprised. Most people are afraid of walking you’ve seen around the school and check up to someone and talking to them, asking out happens when, for a second, we themwhat personal questions about their lives. and ask you ourcan burning hop off the And who couldinternet blame us? In 2017 just google somebody roll up on theirfigured it questions IRL. And or if you haven’t instagram or snapchat and learn it all.
out yet, this time, I was one of the subjects.
Get to know us. As always - with big love and gratitude,
Candice Editor-in-Chief/Writer-in-Residence The Raven *Cover photo by Sindayiganza Photography
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE / CANDICE ILOH ART DIRECTOR / WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE / CAITS MEISSNER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / PRINCIPAL / BRANDON CARDET-HERNANDEZ STAFF WRITERS / THE RAVEN ELECTIVE CLASS Contact Us Bronx Academy of Letters 339 Morris Avenue Bronx, NY 104511
www.bronxletters.org 2
mr.berns  INTERVIEW BY JASHERAH NALLS
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The art teacher of BAL is passionate about his job on educating his students. That teacher’s name is Lewis Berns. He is cool with just about everyone in the school. He always tries hard to get his students to go beyond what they can do with their art. Not only that, but he tries to get their perspectives on their work to higher levels so that they can find ways to add on to their work without his help. Even though he seems like an easy going person, he keeps in mind that he has a job to keep his students in line and make sure that they do their work to get the grade they should be aiming for in his class. He can see the goodness in even the most hard-headed students and show them they can create the stuff that he does by following his instructions and experimenting. I thank him for setting aside time for me to interview him.
WHAT LEAD YOU TO ART?
do it and you try your best and you’re patient.
An overactive imagination as a kid and, to be perfectly honest, when I was in middle school, I was bored in some of my classes. That's what lead me there and what kept me going - it was important for me to have a skill and it's important to develop a passion and that was what art was for me. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL? I felt that someone had to do it and because anyone that knows me knows that I'm loud and energetic and I'm up for the challenge. But it is exhausting and I'm about to have three periods in a row with middle school and I would be lying if I said that I feel up to it every time that I have to have these three periods in a row but you 4
WHY DIDN'T YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ADVISOR THIS YEAR? Because I'm somebody that strives off a regular structure and for me trying to teach all of theclasses I teach, I have 8 different classes this year. For me, I felt like I wasn't good at the things that an advisor is supposed to do, like staying on top of other students’ schedules, making sure that those kind of boxes are checked off for the kind of things that students will need. I felt like I wasn't good at serving that purpose and I felt like I was better off being a resource for the middle schoolers to make sure they have a teacher. I felt like I could help out better in this situation.
DO YOU LIKE TO TALK TO [US] KIDS AND ENGAGE IN DEEP CONVERSATIONS?
shows how technology is rewiring our brains. Also when you create a work of art you create an extension of yourself. Art is like the only time that you can make visual representation of what's going through your head.
That's the most important part about my job and that's the thing that I like about it the most. And my door is always open and even if it's closed I will open if you knock enough times.
I REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE TAKING CLASSES AFTER SCHOOL. WHAT WERE YOU STUDYING?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ART DID FOR YOU WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP AS A KID? It made me feel smart because it was something that I was good at and it also gave me something that made me unique. It was an ice breaker with other kids because I could draw. And it was also a way that I represented myself.
Well I was an art teacher that was studying how to teach art. I was going to grad school and right now I'm taking a break. DID YOUR PARENTS SUPPORT YOU GROWING UP? Of course! They did a very good job in doing that and I’m very lucky to say that. They saw that I couldn't stop drawing so they got me a drawing teacher and then I really wouldn't stop drawing. And if I wanted art supplies, they got it for me.
HOW DO YOU THINK ART CAN AFFECT YOUR STUDENTS PERSONALLY? (CAN THEY LEARN SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP THEM IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE?) The kind of art projects that I do don't focus on history at all and I think that's something that you learn on your own if you're interested. What I focus on are the skills of taking your time and making something valuable with your own two hands and learning how to be observant and also learning from your mistakes and going back to adjust them. And above all: creativity to solve problems. WHAT DO YOU WISH STUDENTS KNEW ABOUT THE PERKS OF CREATING ART? Aside from just going on the internet to get fast results, I want them to take the time to reflect and observe. It’s valuable and it 5
HAS YOUR ART BEEN OUT IN THE WORLD? I mean I've been out in the world. I draw on the subway all the time so that probably counts. People can see it on my instagram. If not there, then they can see it on the subway. My favorite thing is when a little kid catches me drawing, that’s how I know that kids have this natural curiosity and they always want to learn because every single time if there is a kid within ten feet away from me drawing, you can bet they’re staring across at my paper watching me draw. And it doesn't matter if that kid’s an artist or not, it just shows that art is something that human beings like - not just artists.
mr.brooks INTERVIEW BY AILEEN VILLA
Mr. Brooks is not just a college counselor but also a mentor to students—especially his seniors and juniors. He helps seniors with their college applications and motivates them to do better for themselves. He talks to 9th, 10th and 11th graders about college beforehand. He does this because, as a college counselor, it is his priority for students to know about the college process way before it’s time to leave high school. He is the one that brings guests speakers to talk to kids about the college [experience], [post-high school] plans, college tours etc. He’s been doing this for a while now. Mr. Brooks always makes sure students drop by his office if they have any general questions about anything. I chose [to interview] Mr. Brooks because he is someone that many people acknowledge and not many people know the depth of him. I was curious to find out more. DID YOU GROW UP WITH BOTH PARENTS?
There were different things that having male present might have helped me understand at an earlier age. Also there was only one income. Having two incomes usually is a lot easier than having one.
No I grew up with just my mom in a singleparent household. HOW DID THAT IMPACT YOU GROWING UP? There were certain things I didn't learn until my adult life. So for example I didn't know how to do certain things when I got older. I didn't know how to tie a tie. That's something I had to figure out on my own as I got older. 6
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE BETWEEN LOVE OR HAPPINESS, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE? Love because I'm a poor educator and I don't have a lot of money so I've already made my decision.
WOULD YOU SAY YOU'VE PROGRESSED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS?
WHAT CHARACTERISTICS WOULD MOST PEOPLE USE TO DESCRIBE YOU?
Yes, I definitely feel a lot more confident. Whenever you work at a new school you always have the same kinds of questions. Will I be able to do it? Will the students get adjusted to me? Are the students going to like me? [Will they] get used to my sense of humor? I can be sarcastic sometimes. Just different things like that. I feel like I'm a lot more confident in my work here now. I've [developed] really deep relationships and it's been helpful.
I think people would say that I am compassionate, dedicated, and hardworking.
WHAT ARE SOME [OF YOUR] MEMORABLE LIFE STRUGGLES GROWING UP? YOU SAID YOUR MOM WAS A SINGLE PARENT? That's a really good question… My mom did such a good job that there's nothing that jumps out at me. Like oh my god! She did a good job of making sure that, although we were not rich, we had the things that we needed. There were always things that I wanted, of course I was a kid. Like, I'm going to want all the Jordans, all the new video game systems. I wanted all of those things. [But] they’re superficial things. I can think that ‘oh my mom didn't get us that’ but she always made sure that we had a roof over our head and food on our table. The important things were always taken care of. So nothing really jumps out at me as like ‘this is the thing that we struggled with’ because she did a really good job. Now that I'm older I can think of some things maybe but she did a great job.
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WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO COME EVERY DAY AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO GO TO COLLEGE? For me it's when students figure out where they are meant to be and they get their acceptance letters and they are excited to go off to campus. That's one of the most exciting things that could happen. When you get to see them a year from now and they’re college students and you see the growth and their maturity. I just did a trip to New Paltz and we have five students in New Paltz. It felt great to see them a year out, how they look like college kids and sound like college kids. They’ve grown up. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON THAT YOU ARE SO UPBEAT AND MOTIVATED ALL THE TIME? Well, Thank you! For me it's just that I'm here to do a job. I'm here to make sure that the seniors have a place to go next year and I'm excited to do it. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING APART OF A SCHOOL COMMUNITY? For me it's knowing that no two days are alike. When you work with young people it's not going to be like working at an office where every day is the same. Students bring
personalities, they bring their successes, frustrations, and all these different dynamics. That's what I love.
HOW WOULD YOU SAY DOING THESE
WERE YOU ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE YOUR WHOLE LIFE?
THINGS HELP [YOU]
Growing up my mom said that I didn’t have aa choice. So, from the time I knew what college was, I knew it was something I had to do and something I had to go to. Also my mom was a teacher so she went to school and my older sister went to school also. WHAT COLLEGE DID YOU GO TO? HOW DID YOUR EXPERIENCE THERE INSPIRE YOU TO BE WHO YOU ARE TODAY? I went to Fordham University for my bachelors degree. I studied economics and business administration and I went to Hunter College for my masters degree so I could be a counselor here. Some of my best friends, I met in college. Also I figured out what my passion was while I was in college . I didn't grow up knowing I wanted to work with young people. It was something I figured out in college and something I figured out in graduate school when I went to Hunter. So it kinda changed my life. My wife was actually also a friend I went to college with. So it totally changed my life in a bunch of amazing ways.
EXPRESS YOURSELF? For me reading is key. I read all types of books. I’m reading a fiction book right now about vampires. I previously just read Malcolm X’s autobiography again. [I read] different things depending on what type of mood I’m in. Through doing all these things I get to
WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF BEING A COLLEGE COUNSELOR THAT NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT?
accentuate all the different parts of my
I play Tennis. I read a lot. And I like [going to see] Broadway musicals.
personality. 8
britneycruz INTERVIEW BY ABENAA ASSAN
I notice you like to take pictures and videos of your friends on snapchat, why do you feel it’s necessary to capture these moments?
BRITNEY CRUZ is a 15-year old photographer who attends BAL. You can usually find Britney in the dark room where she develops most of her pictures. Every time you see Britney you can always expect a radiant smile with a laugh to accompany it. Often times you can find her recording her friends and taking pictures of them on snapchat as a way to remember the precious moments she shares with the people she loves. SInce a lot of people are obsessed with selfies, I decided to interview Britney because I wanted to know how and why she became interested in taking pictures of things other than herself. Throughout this interview as you come to know Britney more personally, expect to find her definition of beauty, why she finds value in pictures and much more. 9
I feel like it’s just nice to have memories of my friends and I, being in the same classes, so that when I look back I can be reminded of the exact moment. Why do you feel it’s important for you to look back? Looking back helps me remember the moments in my life that made me happy, when I used funny filters on my friends which help bring a smile on my face because I start to remember how good our friendship actually was. How did you first realize you had a passion for photography? It was three years ago, when I noticed my passion for it. My twin nieces were born and it was such a happy time for me.
I'd thought it'd be a great idea to take as many pictures as I could of them as babies so that I can show them later in their teenage years that they were really loved and still will be. Mostly because I want them to know that love was everywhere for them. With or without their dad they still had a amazing family around. How does love play a role in the pictures you take? It captures precious moments with the people who are in the photographs. Every image I have taken I look back at them and remember that exact moment because every image has a story behind it. That story is love. How do you determine if something is worth taking a picture of?
card on my camera is filled with 1,450 photos out of a 62 gb card.
Has anyone in your life ever made you feel like you weren’t beautiful?
What makes something beautiful in your eyes?
Yes, along life you meet people who are no good in your life and you notice it. That's why you take steps so quickly because you don't want people to ruin your confidence. I feel like people who ruin your own confidence are the same ones who aren't happy with themselves. I've learned that and also to walk away, let them find their true inner self.
Something that I think is always beautiful to take photographs of is flowers, sunsets and my family. You can't go wrong with flowers because they're so high quality and come out so realistic meaning any little detail shows up. Sunsets are beyond beautiful that you can look at for long and never get tired of seeing the same thing over and over again. Last but not least my family is my favorite people to take photographs of because not only am I growing up but so are they and when we look back at it we would want to remember how amazing we were and probably still be. Do you feel beautiful?
It all depends really, I like any little thing that can go from my family, nature, objects in my house being in a certain order that I like, really anything. If you think an picture should be taken of anything than so be it because I think everything is worth taking a picture of. Maybe that's why my SD
Yes, I do feel beautiful. As a child I went through a health obstacles that I beat and lost all of my hair. I was very young and at the time I had no choice but just to go along with it. Beautiful can go many different ways but with me I feel beautiful both inside and out. 10
How does photography help you express yourself and make your voice heard? Photographs help me express myself and make my voice heard because something I like to show in my pictures is my nationality. Many people judge Mexicans, mostly for being immigrants and I don't think that's fair. I remember this one photography course I took, where a girl was very racist, she hated not only Mexicans but AfricanAmericans. When she found out I was Mexican she completely went against me in class. At the end of that course we had a photography exhibitionÂ
going on, and I already planned out what I wanted to do. I wanted to focus the project on my nationality with or without her there. Who do you admire or look up to and how has this person influenced you as a person?
"Photographs help me express myself and make my voice heard because something I like to show in my pictures is my nationality. Many people judge Mexicans, mostly for being immigrants and I don't think that's fair."
My mom is someone I admire because even during my difficult times I had she was always there. She's influenced me as a person because from her I've learned what's right and wrong, and what's yes and no. My mother never gave up on any of us and she made sure my siblings & I are headed in the right path. Making sure we're following our dreams. If there was anything you could tell your younger self, what would it be? Don’t care so much about what others think of you because either way you were beautiful. Was there ever anything or anyone in your life that tried to stop you from pursuing your dreams? How did you get past that? Not at all because even if they did I wouldn't have listened anyway. The only I never really care because those ‘ no’s ` that I may be receiving from is the same ones that's don't know me people that get in the way of my dreams are those that don’t know me as a person. The people that do know me know that I'm always happy because I'm grateful for the life I have. I appreciate any little thing that comes my way because if you don't appreciate it then who will? You learn to love and appreciate more as you grow up. 11
mr.haque  INTERVIEW BY IVANNA SANCHEZ
Born and raised in Queens, Shahid Haque spent most of his high school and college years hanging out in the Millbrooke Projects. Surprisingly terrible with extracurriculars in high school and college, Haque is now a 12th grade teacher at Bronx Academy of Letters who teaches Social Studies and Economics. He is most likely found outside of his classroom by the door waiting to welcome his students. He is known for having very strong character and attitude with his students, yet many say he is an interesting and a really nice guy. In this interview, my curiosity will be taking the wheel in bringing his persona to light and going into depth about topics no one thinks about before making a judgement, because they don't know them. With compassion that extends beyond the surface, Haque answers these questions transparently. I decided to interview Mr. Haque because he is a good representation of the teacher body. Many teachers get judged or disrespected every single day and it seems like kids forget they are human, too. Teachers go through tough situations that are similar to ours. He is no different and his story deserves to be heard and read.
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HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A DAY AS YOURSELF?
DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR STUDENTS AS PART OF YOUR FAMILY?
I wake up at 5:30AM to get ready for work. Once I'm ready, I get to BAL by 7:40AM. I teach throughout the day. On a typical weekday, I may go home and cook and relax. Then prep for the next day, if necessary. I end my night by ironing my clothes for the next day. Then bedtime!
When asked if I have kids, I tell people I have about 80... so yes :) DO YOU LIVE ALONE? No. I currently live with a roommate so I can save money. She's not the worst human alive, but certainly not the best either. And she gives me money, so she's okay in my book.
WHAT DOES TEACHING DO FOR YOU? Teaching gives me something to believe in. I wake up every day happy with what I do. It gives me the drive and motivation to stay on top of myself, knowing I have 80 kids who rely on me.
A place where I spend my time enjoying my life... which can be my job (BAL) or my apartment.
WHAT WAS YOUR UPBRINGING LIKE?
WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE A HOME?
I grew up with a single mother, supporting her three sons. My father left us when I was 9 years old and we were on our own since. I worked nearly every single day of my life since I was 11-12 years old, starting with packing bags in a supermarket so I could help contribute to the family. I was born and raised in Queens, but spent most my high school and college years hanging out in the Millbrooke Projects.
Yes.
WHAT DOES THE WORD HOME MEAN TO YOU?
WHERE WERE YOU BORN? I was born and raised in Queens, but spent most my high school and college years hanging out in the Millbrooke Projects. HAVE YOU EVER VISITED YOUR BIRTH PLACE BEFORE?
WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER SOMEONE AS FAMILY?
I've visited Bangladesh a few times prior to entering high school. I have not returned in my adult life.
I'm not actually close to my family, other than my mother. I do have 2 best friends that are like brothers to me at this point, and I'm the godfather of one of their sons. a friend, someone to confide in, and a support system for my kids. While they may see it as me being mean or harsh, I see it as being one of the people that are actually trying to prep them for outside of BAL, whether it's how to carry themselves with integrity and respect for themselves/others.
WHAT IS YOUR FAMILY LIKE? Dysfunctional. WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE ANYTHING LIKE THEM? Not at all. While my family is driven by money, I'm driven by working with and educating the youth of today.
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candiceiloh INTERVIEW BY MOESAE SANDERS
Candice Iloh is the new Writer-in-Residence at Bronx Academy of Letters, but her short time here has not limited the impact she’s made. Born originally in the Midwest Candice made her way to New York City to not only be a teacher but a writer. A good one, at that. Good enough to teach two classes a day here at BAL with a focus on inspiring and encouraging our young minds to produce the magazines you see here every season. But the world views her a completely different way from how her students see her. 14
From a student's perspective in the classroom, Candice is quirky, confident and sometimes a bit sassy. So comfortable with herself, she reveals so much personality with her classes and is honest about the good and the bad. This personality definitely reflects in her teaching style as she deals with us teenagers. I picked Candice [to interview] because she isn’t your average teacher. She shares stories about herself, both personal and not. She’s 100% invested in her students and her personality is always unpredictable. I haven't encountered a teacher like that yet at BAL. This is Candice.
Where did you grow up?
What made you wanna teach at BAL?
I'm originally from the Midwest. I grew up mainly between Peoria and Chicago, IL as well as Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Caits brought me here. I've known her for a few years because we're both writers. Then she told me about this cool thing she does here at BAL and invited me to come do it too. I'm so glad I say yes!
What was school like for you? I've been a loner for a majority of my life so high school was no different. I don't remember most of the kids’ names that I went to school with. I don't remember ANY of my teachers' names and I could probably count the number of friends I had on one hand. I wandered a lot between groups and I was always treated like a funny black girl in class who everybody thought was funny because of the way I spoke and because they knew my family is Nigerian. I was constantly made fun of for being African or smelling like African food and I didn't feel like anyone took me seriously so I stayed to myself.
What's the experience been like for you? It's been a wild ride...y'all are some intense students. Brilliant too. It's been a real challenge for me because I haven't gotten to do a lot of what I want to do in past teaching jobs but I'm grateful that here they let me rock out on all the crazy ideas I have when it comes to things I want to expose all of you to. I've grown and learned a lot. What is your view of the students here? I think you all are so full of personality and have seen/experienced a lot in a short time.
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Would you say you have self-confidence and if so where did you get it from?
Do you see yourself in them? I see myself in a lot of you. Especially the kids who don't have a group or hang out with anybody in particular. I also see myself a lot in the first-generation kids (the ones who are the first to be born here in America in your family). How do you think students view you as a teacher (or a person)?
Self confidence, for me, has been a lifelong challenge but I feel confident in my skin today. I turn 30 this year and I'm moving into my unbothered phase. I've worked hard to not care so much and to just be myself. It feels good. Were you always so self-confident?
*Laughs* I'm pretty sure some of you are afraid of me. Or think I'm weird. Or wonder where I come from and why I talk like this. It's whatever. I don't think too hard about how you all see me. I'm more concerned about how you see yourselves.
No. Growing up I was awkward, overweight, and got made fun of a lot. It's hard to just be confident when other kids are giving you reasons not to be.
Do you care about other people's opinions? Does it fuel you any way?
No. I don't know anyone who does. But I work hard every day to love myself for sure.
Of course I do. I'm human. Do I let it fuel me? Not so much. But as a writer, I do think about how people view me as a writer and how they view my work. That matters a lot. Cause I'm not just writing for myself.
Did you always like yourself?
Do you consider yourself beautiful? ABSOLUTELY!
"Self confidence, for me, has been a lifelong challenge but I feel confident in my skin today. I turn 30 this year and I'm moving into my unbothered phase. I've worked hard to not care so much and to just be myself. It feels good." 16
What is your definition of beauty? Beauty is acceptance. I accept myself as I am. Do you consider yourself a fighter? For sure. But not physically. I fight every day to feel safe as a woman. I fight every day to love myself. I fight everyday to create experiences in my classroom that my students will remember and appreciate. I fight everyday to create space for myself be a queer person of color. I am a fighter because I do aggressively fight for these things every day with my voice.  You being a queer woman of color, have you ever questioned your level of beauty? Yes but my queerness has never been the reason why I questioned my beauty. What is it like being queer in a school setting? Are you always accepted? Has there ever been a time where you weren’t accepted? And, if so, how did you overcome that? I made a rule for myself years ago and it is to not ever work in a space or environment that feels unsafe for me based on who I am. There are all kinds of places I could be in New York and in the world where I can't control my environment. But I can control where I work. And a big reason why I came to BAL is because I knew that here I would be respected for what I do regardless of my gender, race, or sexuality. In fact, those things are celebrated here.
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jasherahnalls INTERVIEW BY ISAIAH VARGAS
Jasherah Nalls isn’t an average, everyday girl. She's creative and fun to be around. She's bold and doesn't hesitate to say or do what she wants. You may know her as a weirdo or the artist for the comics in the school magazine. I see her as an inspirational person a lot of people can learn from. She is someone I can see a lot of people looking up to. She’s a strong girl who would do everything she can to reach her goals. 18
So what’s one thing you want to do before you get old?
What keeps you going?
I want to create my own manga. Why a manga (a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, typically aimed at adults as well as children)? I love anime and creating scenarios and stories and it’s a way for me to express myself.
Anime itself. It's so amazing and I love to watch it. It’s like I want to have everything I read and watch in anime, and have others experience what I love so they can be like “wow this is so cool and amazing!” I just want my work to be out there and for others see it and enjoy it as much as me. When it comes to your art, how do you come up with the ideas?
What will you do to achieve this? I [plan to] work my way into the process of creating more professional art and get better writing done while at the same time start studying art and writing so I can see how to manipulate a situation and create a great story for others to read. Is there anyone you miss? Well not really. But if I had to choose I would say my mother. She passed away when I was in middle school. I've lived with my grandmother since I was young so I didn't really get to connect with my mother when I would [have] liked to. Do you have any regrets right now? A regret I might have is not being able to do much with my time as a young adult. I'm about to go onto the adult world with no real work experience, and now I'm scared that I might not be ready.
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Well usually I just think of a situation or an event and branch on from there. It can take some time to come up with ideas but somehow I manage to pull through. Is there something you want to change about yourself? Well right now I like the way I am. But if I were to change anything, I would change my style. So if you were to see me on the streets, you would recognize me. What made you choose to become an artist? Well art is something that I picked up when I started high school. I had friends and we would always work on projects but never finished them. One day I asked for an art book from one of the art teachers and I started off with that. I noticed that I had some
talent. Now I keep trying to learn new skills and get better. Has art made you see the world differently? Well I wouldn't say that art made me see the world differently but what I would say is that Anime did. I like the content and the story board and the style that it uses. It's always vibrant and it can set the mood to some situations. Some anime I’ve watched has made me cry; it can get really personal and emotional. How has art or anime influenced you? Anime has made me more open because in anime, they talk like there's barely any judging and they have a completely different life style, such as the way they go to school. They have a special way they do things that’s so different from us, like the uniforms, the policies and even the schools. Besides art what do you like to do? I like to sing follow me: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ WGpw2pEdKf-_pHEsxMvJQ Please subscribe lol!
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"Art is something that I picked up when I started high school. I had friends and we would always work on projects but never finished them. One day I asked for an art book from one of the art teachers and I started off with that. I noticed that I had some talent. Now I keep trying to learn new skills and get better."
mr.rose INTERVIEW BY JASON SALGADO
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Mr. Rose is a cool teacher. He connects with his students and doesn’t tolerate “jerks” as he says. He tries to make sure his class isn’t boring, always making sure to keep Global Studies interesting. The first time I saw Mr.Rose I thought he was gonna be a basic lame teacher. Also a cornball. But he actually likes to enjoy himself when the time is right. Mr. Rose is most likely to become a comedian. Not a very good one, but a decent one. He knows both how to have fun with his students and and also when it's time to be serious. what I believe education should emphasize, and what it should look like and feel like for students. My experience here has shown this to be true.
Who were you before you became a teacher? Before I became a teacher, I was a lopsided person (or whatever not well-rounded is called). I was primarily concerned with myself and getting my career going and my problems. I did not really think about the big picture and my role in it. For most of my life up to that point, my identity had really only come from being a white student-athlete from the suburbs. I'd had life experiences that developed some parts of my character deeply but I was not yet living a lifestyle that was challenging me to be any better or any more complete than I was.
Did you have experience with kids that act as if there is no hope before you came to this school?
Why did you choose to teach in this community? A lot of people have asked me this question. The honest answer is I just really wanted to be a high school social studies teacher. When I got out of college, I applied for teaching jobs all over. After about a year of looking, I took an offer to work at a charter school at John F. Kennedy Campus in the Bronx, but the school did not really agree with what I felt education should look like. I came to BAL the following school year because it seemed to be a place much more in line with
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The first time I encountered students like this was when I was a student-teacher at Harry S. Truman High School in Levittown, PA. I was a senior in college. It was a high school of over 1,500 students who were mostly from a working class/lower class background and a lot of their families had been living in the area and working the same kind of jobs for generations. The school had a lot of great things happening but they'd also experienced at least one student commit suicide each year for the past few years, and when I was there a student died in a car accident driving home from a baseball game after school. So there was this kind of heavy tragic aspect of the school community for many people there. For those who acted like they had no hope, I felt they'd just kind of accepted that after high school, they'd follow a path that'd already been created for them by the generations before them. It seemed like they felt their lives had already been decided for them or
that they were victims of their circumstance. These students gave me a whole new perspective about a lot of things.
What was the major turning point in your life? Hmm. When I was a junior in college, my competitive swimming career was ended due to an illness I had. It was super devastating at the time because swimming was a huge part of my identity. It'd impacted almost every choice I had made since I was a freshman in high school. To have to stop, not on my own terms, but due to circumstances I could not have prevented and couldn't control just felt so terrible and I felt like the universe totally gypped me. But it opened up a lot of opportunities that I'd either overlooked or could not take advantage because I did not have the time before. I studied abroad and traveled around Europe. I started coaching and getting more involved in other interests and meeting a lot of new people that helped me grow as a person. So looking back now, it made me a much stronger and more capable human being. That strength I learned, and just the experience of grinding through a challenging time period allowed me to get to where I am today and be who I am today.
Are you ever nervous coming to school knowing the environment you're in? Ah. Well, the school environment, no, absolutely not. But the environment outside school, yeah. I recently saw a kid get shot when I was driving home from work. They were high school aged and it was only a few blocks from here in broad daylight. Until then, I do not think I had ever even seen a gun fired in real life. That kinda made this environment a lot more real for me. And I was just so relieved it was not any of our students or a colleague. So yeah, I would not say it is on my mind every single day or impacts my decisions but in the back of my head, I am kind of nervous and worried because I really don't want something like that to happen to anyone I know. Or anyone for that matter. But I chose to work here and I choose to come to work every morning. And I know my students didn't choose to live here but they choose to come to school. In some weird way, that makes me feel a lot better and gives me peace.
What is one bad choice you made in life that made you who you are today?
If you had an opportunity to work somewhere else would you take it?
Ok I need to give context for this because I still feel terrible about it. In 9th grade, my baseball team was in the playoffs. Our game was on a Sunday night so Saturday we had practice. At practice we worked on one thing:throwing to the cut off man. After 3 hours, we got kicked off the field, so our coach took us in his car and drove us around til we found another field where we practiced for another couple of hours. Everything was lookin good. However, on game day, my friend David was in left field. A batter hits a ball to him. I was the cut off man. Instead of throwing it to me he tries to chuck it home and it goes over the fence which allows the other team to score 3 runs. We lose 5-4. So. The next day at school, I see David at lunch. And I was still not over the defeat. I don't want to say that I yelled, but I definitely was not speaking at normal conversational volume. And I asked him how inÂ
No, I wouldn't. I love working here and I love my students. The only tempting offer would be to go teach in another country. An advantage of teaching mostly 9th graders is that I get to watch my students grow and mature throughout high school. I don't want to deprive myself of that joy. Plus, I have yet to watch a group I taught in 9th grade graduate so I am really looking forward to that day and being able to see that every year. At some point in my life, I might feel a change of setting is necessary for me to grow as a person or achieve other goals. But right now, I am very invested and I feel I have a lot more work to do here. Plus, I have not coached the baseball team to a championship yet. If I leave, I'd like to leave like Peyton Manning did: a champion.
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the world after all that practice of preparing for that one play did he not throw it to me, the cut off man, but instead chucked it over the fence. David started to cry. I remember my knee jerk reaction was something like, "hey I am just being honest." But like 30 seconds later, I felt absolutely awful. And still do. I apologized profusely the next day and we were friends throughout high school so there's a happy ending. But I learned that nothing is more important than being a good person. Nothing ever justifies being mean. And I learned that being an honest jerk still makes you a jerk. So I'd like to think that this lead me to be a nice honest good person today.
students might just not like social studies. But then it's like ok maybe I should show students my appreciation more obviously. Or I just gotta remember teenagers act like teenagers and they are not trying to be mean. We're all human. One really good day can erase a lot of those other days from my memory too so I try to remember that and just take some deep breaths. I also know that deep down every student loves me and finds me hilarious and wants to be super cool and awesome social studies teachers when they grow up.
What do you believe in?
Are you asking me to be absent? I would definitely support a school schedule that includes nap time. But a break from teaching? I have not really considered it. I feel like I just started. I love teaching but I love a lot of other things as well so if I ever took a break from it, it'd be to pursue some other passion. There are a lot of places in the world I want to experience and non-school things I want to do. I enjoy the breaks we have and summers a lot though because it gives me time to give those other passions my attention. That's been enough.
Do you ever think that you should take a break from school?
Public schools. Social studies. Homework. The heliocentric model. Coffee. Reading. The earth is round. Desiderata. The Jets. Han Solo shot first. Compound interest. Also, I am a sucker for inspirational quotes and my coach once wrote this one down for me and I have never forgotten it: "If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams, and endeavors to live the life they have imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." So I believe in having a vision for yourself and that working hard to make it happen is more valuable than the result that you want. And I guess I believe in fortunes on fortune cookies too. How often do you feel unwelcomed when you come to class to teach? Hahaha this is an interesting question. Even on my worst days, I do not think I ever feel unwelcome. At least not when I come to class. Maybe by the end of class haha. I think a better word is salty. But when I get salty, it's cause I get super self-centered and start feeling bad for myself. Like, "I worked so hard for such a long time to make this lesson fun and interesting and valuable and they just want to play that pool game on their phone, take selfies, and talk to each other. Don't they care about Genghis Khan and cultural diffusion?!?!" I also have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact some 24
"I just gotta remember teenagers act like teenagers and they are not trying to be mean. We're all human. One really good day can erase a lot of those other days from my memory too so I try to remember that and just take some deep breaths."
ms.mascioli INTERVIEW BY FELIX CASTILLO
Ms. Mascioli is one of the 9th and 10th grade writing teachers. Originally from Boston she grew up in a family that, for the most part, was made up of teachers. As a feminist she believes that “It's on us [women] to make sure we get what we really need.” I decided to interview Ms. Mascioli because she’s always seemed happy to teach and is always animated. She cares about the quality of the works her students create and cares a lot about how her students feel.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHAT MADE YOU MOVE TO NEW YORK?
WHY IS IT A BIG GOAL FOR YOU TO LIVE IN NEW YORK?
I am from Boston. I first lived in Las Vegas for two years and then I moved to New York for this job and grad school.
New York was always a goal for me because it is full of opportunity and diversity. I wanted to live somewhere with lots of different ethnic groups, languages, types of people, and in a big city. I wanted the fast paced environment and lots of opportunities.
IF YOU HAD THE CHOICE TO MOVE AGAIN, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO THIS TIME? I think right now I would stay in New York. It was a big goal for me to live here for a really long time and I’ve only been here for less than a year.
WHAT DO YOU DO TO STAY HAPPY? I go out with my friends, I dance, I read, and I write!
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WHAT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DAD MAKES YOU CLOSER TO HIM THAN TO SOMEONE ELSE IN YOUR FAMILY? My dad and I were always really similar. We liked the same things and had nearly identical personalities. He was always my biggest supporter.
KNOWING THE TOUGH ATTITUDES SOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN HAVE, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THEM?
HAS ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY EVER DOUBTED YOUR TEACHING CAREER?
I think a lot of students want to do a fantastic job but I think a lot of them don’t know how so I’m excited to help them figure that out.
My grandmother was an elementary school teacher and my Dad wanted to become a teacher but he never ended up becoming one [so no one in my family never really doubted my choice].
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR OLD COMMUNITY COMPARED TO THE SOUTH BRONX COMMUNITY?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COMMON CORE CURRICULUM?
Compared to my old community it is definitely a lot bigger and more diverse than where I came from which is just what I was looking for so I'm much happier here.
I think the Common Core in some ways does not allow for teachers and students to have a lot of control over their work. However, I think that it is up to teachers to use the standards as a guide and still create really interesting, engaging, and thoughtful lessons and projects that students can get into.
WHO ARE YOU CLOSEST WITH IN YOUR FAMILY? I am closest to my dad.
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HOW DO YOU THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL AFFECT THE LIVES OF WOMEN? I think over the next four years women need to be more vigilant about what they require in terms of their own race as humans and not just women. I think we know what his intentions are and we know he is capable of and now it's on us to really make sure to get what we need. HAS THERE EVER BEEN A MOMENT THAT YOU WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE YOU ARE A WOMAN? I’ve been told I can’t do something because I am a women but I feel like I was privileged enough to grow up around people who for the most part believe in gender equality. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "GREW UP AROUND PEOPLE WHO FOR THE MOST PART BELIEVED IN GENDER EQUALITY?" I grew up in a really progressive environment. Most people I interacted with were very progressive, meaning they were all for equality in all terms. This helped me become a better feminist and social justice change-maker.
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"I think over the next four years women need to be more vigilant about what they require in terms of their own race as humans and not just women. I think we know what his intentions are and we know he is capable of and now it's on us to really make sure to get what we need."
principalbrandon INTERVIEW BY SHANICE TRAMBLE
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Whenever I see Brandon he is usually walking in the hallway with his phone in his right hand along with his visible tattoos.
You can find Brandon [anywhere from] the lobby to the hallway to the stairs, and, of course, his office. This man is everywhere! I chose [to interview] Brandon because I wonder to myself why he cares so much about us—most importantly, why does cares so much about teenagers in the South Bronx. It’s obvious that Brandon’s actions and his concerns for his students show that he genuinely loves each of his students as individuals.
What were your first impressions of BAL?
What moved you to become a principal of a school specifically in the South Bronx?
Real talk? I saw teachers who were super dedicated and students who were really invested in this school who love it and want to see it do well and could really recognize that the school is making a big difference in their lives. On the other side, I also saw students who hated school, didn’t feel respected and saw Bronx Letters as the enemy and not the solution. That first week, I just grabbed students across different grades and talked to them about Bronx Letters and what it means to them. I had to learn from the students how they perceived us and what they thought about the work we are doing. The feedback from students was so helpful and that is always what keeps me focused on the work and the changes ahead.
Education really changed my life. I grew up in Florida but I kind of bounced around a lot. Because I went to so many different schools, I could really feel the difference between a great school and a struggling one. For a chunk of my life, I had really awful teachers. Then, when I got to high school, I got lucky because there were a few amazing adults-- great teachers that allowed me to be someone different than what I thought I could be and there is a part of me that is always trying to give back. But also trying to make a school that is better than I ever went to.
How has being a principal changed your life? I’m a better person because of this job. I have learned to listen more, to say I’m sorry when I’m wrong and to believe in my vision even if I can’t see the results immediately. That part is huge for me. I’ve always been a person who second-guessed myself but being a principal- being a leader- pushes me to believe in myself and believe that I am person who is powerful and can have a lasting impact on the world. It sounds crazy but I really love you guys and I love our teachers and I love our school. I believe in what we are doing and I believe we are changing the world. I didn’t know that my heart could be so full.
Another thing is that I went to school and I never had any Latino teachers til high school. It doesn’t mean that my other nonLatino teachers were “bad” it’s just that I never saw someone who shared my identity. I remember meeting Christopher Ramirez and he was this awesome educator who changed my life and allowed me to see myself—a Latino man— as a change agent and change maker.
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What motivates you to care so much about the students?
What did you do before becoming a principal? I started my career as community organizer. It is the heart of why I do the job. After organizing for Latino civil rights issues and LGBTQ issues, I became a college counselor for over-aged youth. After that, I began working as the Deputy of Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Education. I loved that job but I wanted to get back into a school and be with kids. I knew that I wanted to be in the South Bronx and work in a community that has often been overlooked and under-supported. Have you ever felt intimidated by this work? Sometimes I feel that I can’t do enough and it's intimidating when you know how high stakes it is. We know what it means for a kid not to graduate highschool, chances of incarceration increases, we know that it's hard to break cycles of poverty. We know that finishing high school and college is the the only way towards breaking some of these cycles-- unless you fall into being a celebrity which is unlikely. Education is the only way to move into the middle class and that is a lot of pressure because I want that for all of our students. So yes I am always intimidated by my job. The outcomes are too important not to be. What are the advantages of your role in the school? There are two advantages: I get to live the dream. I dreamed about having this job. This my dream job and it's really amazing of what I came from to know that I have the job I dreamt about. I am the first person in my family who finished high school and got to college. People in my family were incarcerated. My mom is a waitress and cleans houses. So for me, someone who makes a really great salary doing something I get excited about doing everyday and knowing that I can get to leave my foot prints somewhere—that I get to make a difference and transform the world—that is a dream. The second advantage is getting to hear from my former students and to know they are doing well. Last night one of my first graduates sent me a message on instagram. He was reminding me of stories from our global history class and he quoted this thing I used to say to him all the time. He’s now in graduate school and doing amazing things with his life. He started off in a tough spot. He was resistant to learning, his dad was locked up and he was unfocused in the classroom. He got it together though and his success is my success and my success is equally his. Can you think of a better advantage than knowing that you are forever part of someone's journey towards the best version of themselves? I can’t. 30
I have been forever changed because of education. That is really the truth. Everyday, I get to live the benefits of what it means to be educated. I get to be smarter than I imagined, more successful than I planned and I get to wake up everyday and go to a job that makes me really happy and gives me a sense of purpose. I’m actually in this interesting personal moment in my life where my Mom is really sick and I am watching her struggle a lot. She’s not struggling because she is sick but to be honest, her struggle is because she is poor and undereducated. She doesn’t have a savings account, she lives paycheck to paycheck as a really awesome and hard-working waitress, and because she was incarcerated she hasn’t worked long enough to get social security. I don’t want that for myself. I don’t want that for her. I don’t want that for you. Education is the greatest indicator of if someone will be poor or not. So: what motivates me? To be honest? Education is our liberation and while money can’t buy you happiness, it definitely feels better than being poor. I am motivated because I don’t want our communities being in a place where life gets harder and not easier. I want us to live our best lives and I know that happens when we are able to take care of ourselves and the ones we love—and that happens when we are educated. How do you make the students feel safe when they are in school? I am the adult and I will always be the adult. I try to also make sure that I am kind to all of you guys. I am a person and I get annoyed, upset and sad. I am a
human being but, I really try to make sure that I work really hard to be nice. It sounds simple but it is my truth. I think with kindness people feel safe and supported. Have you ever made bad decisions for the school that you regret? Yes, a lot of them. All the time. I am a person so I make bad choices. I yelled at kids before and I apologized. I spent money or I bought something for the school and I realized that it was a bad investment—like those terrible Lenovo computers. I make bad choices all the time. It's really easy to go down the rabbit hole but I have to really celebrate the successes like the kid who passes all his classes for the first time or the kid who usually misses two days of school a week and then they are here everyday or the one who got into their dream college and who got a full ride. Or the scholar that passes the middle school exam. Or a teacher who taught the best lesson they ever taught because they feel supported and safe to take risks. Or a student who is going on a trip to Europe and learn to explore because of our partnership. I need to celebrate those moments. It feels good to accomplish things and you have to name your accomplishments. It’s really easy to overlook your own success. It takes work to name your victories and own your victories and celebrate them. Have you ever been threatened because of who you are? Did that ever make you want to quit? When I first started, a student called me a faggot. I was shocked. I was angry. I was also just sad. We got to a good place though. We talked about it. We reset our relationship and we have moved on. But it hurt. Of course it would. It’s a hurtful word. Listen, I am a person-- all of our teachers are, just like you guys. We are all in a relationship with one another and no one should be in a relationship where people call each other names. Period. But there is no name-calling that is going to make me quit and I think that over the last few years the students at BAL know that I am here for you guys. I believe that you can see my commitment and you know that my only goal is to see you win. I love you guys too much and I really believe in what we are doing and where we are going. I believe in you. 31
"So: what motivates me? To be honest? Education is our liberation and while money can’t buy you happiness, it definitely feels better than being poor. I am motivated because I don’t want our communities being in a place where life gets harder and not easier. I want us to live our best lives and I know that happens when we are able to take care of ourselves and the ones we love—and that happens when we are educated."
ms.suarez INTERVIEW BY TYESHA NAZARIO
How was life [for you] growing up?
Corrine Suarez an intelligent and hilarious women. As a student counselor she is one of the best and is always busy doing her job. She has a vibe that you can get comfortable with and it's easy to have a great conversation with her. She gives all kinds of advice—especially when it comes to school and relationships. She is always outspoken with what she believes and how she feels and she won't hold anything back. You can usually see her blended in with the students in the hallway when the bell rings or in her office. Ms. Suarez is someone who you can read off the moment you meet her. You can tell she’s a good listener and a great speaker. I chose Ms. Suarez because I thought this would be a great interview, but also because there are things I may not know that I want to know. 32
Life was good growing up. I grew up very family-oriented. We Celebrated every birthday with each other including extended family. My parents always made sure my brother and I never needed anything. Did you experience any major turning point in life? I think a turning point in my life was when I graduated college. The real world was kind of like a slap in the face and I had no other choice to be responsible and mature and my mindset changed a lot after graduating. Did you get good grades in school? I’ve always pretty much gotten good grades because I was scared to get bad grades. The one time i didn't do so well was my first year of college just because I wasn’t ready.
Are you currently working your dream job? Growing up my dream job was to become a psychologist. I'm doing something similar but not quite what my dream originally was. Why did you decide to be a counselor? When did you realize it’s what you wanted to be? I decided to become a counselor because I love working with young kids and teens and I felt being in a school would give me an outlet and flexibility to do what I wanted to do and love doing it. It wasn't until grad school when I saw myself and realized that's what I want to do. I started seeing myself working in a school as a counselor. Do you have anyone who inspired you to work in a school? How did they do that? Both of my parents inspired me. My dad, for instance, was working in a school and he would always have stories that made it sound like it was a great place to work. My mom because she loves working with kids and
she has such compassion for the people she works with. It made me want to have the same compassion. What was your inspiration or motivation growing up? My inspiration was to be successful and have a family that didn't have to struggle. My father has always been a businessman and I didn't want to be a nobody meaning who didn’t get anywhere in life. I worked hard for where I am at or where I am going to be. What major event made an impact on your life? Moving out of my parents house made a big impact on my life. A lot of things financially had to change because my checks had to go to rent. It was very hard at first and took a lot of getting uses to because i was used to spending when and wherever I wanted to. Ever had a relationship that made you realize important things? Any advice? My last relationship made me realize how selfish I can be and that if I want to be in a relationship that works out I can't be selfish. 33
Do you love your job? Do you love yourself? I love my job very much, especially in comparison to my last job. After all the years of being insecure I can say that I do love myself and the person that I have become.
ABOUT OURÂ
Writer in Residence Program For 14 years, Bronx Academy of Letters has hosted a vibrant Writer in Residence program. Underscoring the importance of literacy and writing, the Writer In Residence program leverages the expertise of working authors to bring an authentic contemporary writing experience to all students. Â Through elective classes, students sparked by writing dive deep in the art forms of poetry and nonfiction, creating The Raven and One Pen, our news/magazine and literary journal publications. All students are served by our Writers Forum, which brings professional authors five times per year for rich assembly experiences. Students are offered opportunities to connect to the writing world beyond school, meeting with special guests, attending field trips such as the National Book Awards, and submitting to contests.
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