New York

I have been to New York twice in my life. The first time I was with my high school choir. The summer after my junior year we did an East Coast tour, driving by bus from St. Louis to Connecticut and then up the coast to New York doing shows along the way. It was an amazing experience, and I was able to see many of New York's amazing tourist attractions. We were in the background of the today show, went up in the Empire State building, walked through Central Park, and even saw Newsies on Broadway.

The second time I went to New York was with my parents the summer after my senior year. I had the great honor to receive two awards in the National Scholastic Art and Writing competition for my work "Paradise Lost: American Industry, Racial Divide, and the Decline of East St. Louis." I received a Gold Key award in journalism, as well as an American Voices medal. On this trip I saw, once again, many of New York's amazing attractions, but the most amazing part was the awards ceremony. The award recipients were all recognized during a ceremony in Carnegie Hall that featured celebrities like Whoopie Goldberg. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to be in a room with so many talented young writers, and I am so grateful that I was able to be there.

One amazing quote stuck with me, and I will share it here in hopes that it can inspire others as it has inspired me: "You are destined to write things that will reverberate in the world."