Frank Bi, a high school junior, has reported for his school newspaper since he was a freshman. After attending ThreeSixty’s 2006 summer workshop, he decided that writing and journalism were what he really wanted to pursue. In addition to writing, Frank enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music, and playing basketball and tennis. In the three years he has reported for his school newspaper, Frank has not had much of a chance to report outside his community. He sees the Editorial Board as an opportunity to increase the range in which he reports as well as develop as a journalist.
Thomas Birai, a suburban senior whose parents emigrated from Africa, had no clue what his teacher was talking about when she admired his paper and said, “You have amazing potential to be an journalist!” This comment made him think “Maybe I actually have a chance to be a writer. He added the ThreeSixty summer workshop in 2007. “[Being part of ThreeSixty] is a privilege,” Thomas said. “I plan on taking as much out of this program as they give me.”
Tanya Bui is an alumna of ThreeSixty’s 2005 summer workshop and the Asian American Journalist Association workshop. A St. Paul senior, she dedicates her time to writing for her school’s newspaper and spearheading the school’s first online newspaper. She is fluent in Vietnamese, studies Chinese and German and believes her passion for exploring cultures parallels her interest in reporting on teens’ lives. “ThreeSixty is essential in promoting the idea that different lives and perspectives exist and that sharing those stories is valuable to the greater community,” she says.” Tanya works on the KARE-11 Whatever Show, volunteers at the Minnesota Valley Humane Society, and works at Payless ShoeSource.
Tiana Daun is a Minneapolis senior and an alumna of the 2007 ThreeSixty summer workshop. She is active on her school’s newspaper, drama club, National Honor Society and swim team. She believes that working as a teen journalist is a privilege as well as a spectacular experience. It allows teens to be heard. “The online magazine is a way for teens to know what’s going on!”
Priyanka Kailash wants to be a stronger journalist so that one day the stories she tells will help bring real change in the world. As a senior in a suburban high school, she has been in broadcast class for three years and wants to continue learn everything she can about production and editing. She and her parents are from India and next year she plans to travel around India and do some stories.
Ariel Kendall, a freshman at University of St Thomas, has a passion for writing. “It is important to have teen journalists because our voices and perspectives need to be heard. We are the future.” Ariel loves to run and hang out with her twin sister.
Belle Lin is a junior in high school in Shoreview. “I think that being a journalist is a great privilege. In my experience, there are three types of people in the world – those that make the news, those that read the news, and those that tell the news. I believe that journalists are the bridge connecting the public and the stories they should know.” In the changing field of Journalism she is learning tools and skills to be part of a new generation that is able to tell quality stories with the latest multimedia technologies- stories that matter. “I believe ThreeSixty’s Editorial Board is a medium with which I can make my voice heard and communicate issues that concern other young people like myself. “She believes ThreeSixty’s easy access as a website takes advantage of where young people are at. “In a matter of seconds – stories we write can impact other teens [around the globe] in even the smallest way, “ she says. Currently, Belle is the News Editor of her school paper the Viewer. Her hobbies include painting, playing tennis, reading, playing clarinet and piano in her school band and orchestra.
Paris Porter, a 17-year-old senior in St. Paul, joined ThreeSixty because he hopes to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a sports writer. “This summer I learned how much work it takes to research, report and rewrite to make a story a good one,” says Paris, who is originally from Chicago. He believes it’s important for youth to get involved in journalism since it’s such a big part of their world. “We young writers are the next generation of media, reporting the news stories for the world to hear.” Porter volunteers at his neighborhood community center, working with young children and talking about sports.
Alexandra Sifferlin has been writing for her school newspaper for the last two years and is currently editor-in chief. Her favorite journalism experience was writing about immigration issues during the Midwest 2007 Missouri Urban Journalism workshop. Alexandra joined the editorial board because “I want to expand my journalism knowledge and have the opportunity to be heard by a broader audience.” She lives in the suburbs and is also involved in her school’s dance line.
Matthew Smith has spent the past three years working on his high school newspaper in St. Paul. Now a senior, he is president of his class and the school’s National Honor Society chapter. He attended the 2007 ThreeSixty summer workshop. For him, reporting and writing stories is more than an extracurricular; it empowers him to know that he is telling the stories that might otherwise go unnoticed. He plans to study journalism in college.
Dannah Waukazo is a senior and editor of the online newspaper at her high school Minneapolis. She enjoys the importance of journalism with her classmates.” Journalism is important because it shows many sides of what is going on in the world.” She is also a main writer for Shine On! – a publication of Minneapolis Public Schools that shares the stories and actions of youth involved in leadership and civic engagement. Through ThreeSixty’s online magazine, Dannah hopes teens can have their visions and stories understood throughout the country.
