Students of NYC, New York, NY (2025)

06/20/2025

“I move a lot. So I don’t have a neighborhood, but I always stay around the school. The school neighborhood is my neighborhood. Literally, the room we’re in, I painted these walls. I worked here in the summer and helped with beautification of the school.
When I’d leave, there were fire hydrants broken open and we had people outside and little icys sold out of carts. A culture so alive and colorful that it wouldn’t even seem realistic to someone who saw it in a movie. The Bronx– it has the most freedom. I can be myself. When I go to Manhattan, there are all these real tourists, and all these stores that no one can afford. Who are they for? That’s just not my New York.

This neighborhood, if I had to sum it up in one word, would probably be ‘resilience.’ I’ve gone through a lot and this is one place I know I will always be able to come back to. It’s easy for me to find. I don’t even know my home address by heart, but I know the school’s address by heart. I know how to get here on any and every train, any and every bus. I could walk here from Texas if I needed to. That’s how well this place has stuck with me. Once, I came back from visiting my grandmother in Florida, and I found my way here without even trying. Autopilot brought me to this school before I found my way back home.

Ms. Ross told me, ‘You enjoy learning,’ which I guess I didn’t entirely comprehend when she said it. I go to her class after school almost every day– just because– and we always talk. She’s got kids at home, a long commute—but she makes time. But she was like, ‘You enjoy learning.’ And I didn’t really understand what she meant until I realized. In every class, I’m doing beyond what is expected of me. Because I never just want good grades– I want more. When I finish high school, I want something to show for it. I know a lot, but I also know that I don’t know a lot. Ms. Ross is right. She saw part of me I didn’t see. And maybe that’s what makes this place feel like home, family. Not the blood kind. That’s different. That’s complicated. But this kind of family—the dysfunctional, show-up-anyway kind—it matters.”

06/15/2025

“There were a few times I wanted to quit. It was too much — high school classes, nursing coursework, track practice, a part-time job. I’d get home exhausted and still have hours of studying to do. But every time I felt like giving up, one of my teachers would step in. Not just academically — they saw me. They believed in me when I barely had energy to believe in myself. One of them noticed I was nodding off in class and didn’t yell at me or anything— she pulled me aside and asked what was going on. When I told her I was working, doing clinical hours, and trying to stay on top of everything, she didn’t say, ‘That’s too much.’ She said, ‘Okay. How can I help?’ And she meant it. They all did. They found ways to support me — extra tutoring, words of encouragement, just checking in when they knew I had a tough week. That kind of belief builds something in you.

I think New York City teachers are different. There’s this toughness, but also this heart. They don’t give up on you — even when you’re ready to give up on yourself. They understand what it’s like to grow up here, to juggle school and work and family. A lot of them have lived some version of your story. And when you see a teacher who looks like you, who comes from where you come from — that hits different. It tells you, ‘You can make it too.’

I had Black teachers who changed the way I saw myself. Who made me feel proud of where I come from, proud of who I am. Representation matters — it really does. When you’re young and trying to find your way, just seeing someone like you in a position of leadership or success plants a seed. It says, ‘You belong here.”

Anton is our first Alumni Student of NYC featured! If you are a graduate of the NYC school system, DM us to be considered for a feature.

06/06/2025

“My full name is 23 letters long. ‘MORIREOLUWAGBANILEALAYE.’ It means ‘I’ve seen the goodness of God in the land of the living.’ In Nigeria, children are named on the circumstances of their birth. My dad named me that because he waited six years to have me. No child. No job. Then, just a month before I was born, he finally got a job offer. He called me his miracle child. He died when I was seven. Cancer. I didn’t cry for two years. I just didn’t. Not a single tear. I think because he kept saying to me: ‘Always be strong for your mom.’ Over and over. That was the last thing he wanted. I think he was trying to make me strong. Because I was all she had. And she was all I had.”

Stay tuned for the rest of MO’s story, or read it in full at the link in our bio.

06/03/2025

“Some say I do too much, but I never feel that way. On Tuesdays I take swimming classes. On Thursdays I attend YWCA meetings. I founded my school’s Heart club — I’m the president — and I hold those meetings on Mondays. But my favorite thing to do is to volunteer. I find the opportunities myself on this website called . At the New Jewish Home in Manhattan, I do manicures on the elderly residents. I volunteer at Luv Michael which is a place that helps connect autistic adults with jobs. I set up a Winter Wonderland for an elementary school last year. Honestly, it’s the look on people’s faces that I love most. The way their face lights up. When I finish with a resident’s nails, they just look so happy. It makes me feel like, oh my gosh, I need to keep doing this.

I work at Doral Health and Wellness clinic on Eastern Parkway on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. There are a lot of elderly people there, and sometimes they need extra assistance. I can see the adults I work with as they try to stay calm, think internally, make sure they don’t get frustrated. They do a good job of it. But for me, being patient comes so naturally. I don’t have to regulate myself; it’s just instinct. If they don’t get the question I’m asking? It’s okay — I’ll just break it down, give examples. If they don’t know what a medication is? It’s okay — I help them look it up to see exactly what it does. When people need more, I always want to be the one to take the extra time. To give them what they need.
Honestly, I think I learned patience from my mom. She’s a family nurse practitioner and I always listened when she would call her patients to introduce herself. Sometimes they don’t understand who she is, why she’s calling. But she is always calm. They ask a lot of questions, and she explains herself until they are comfortable. It’s a small thing, but I noticed.”

05/09/2025

“When I came in 9th grade, I was very timid and shy. I didn’t know how beautiful I was. The negative things people said about me — I would voice those negative opinions to myself. I needed braces, and I didn’t know how to do my hair. I had dealt with so much at home. Things weren’t good with my mom. School was supposed to be my safe haven, and other kids making fun of me — destroying me little by little — it felt like I had nowhere else to go. One day, things got so overwhelming. I don’t remember exactly what happened, but I know it was the tipping point. It wasn’t just about being bullied — I had dealt with so much in my past that it was just the icing on the cake. I felt like nobody understood me. Like nobody wanted me anywhere. I felt so alone. I wanted to run out of school, but I didn’t want to get in trouble. So I went and hid under the school staircase and cried. I think a safety agent saw me, and she must have gotten Ms. Lorenda, our school social worker. I had never talked to her before, but she came and she sat down next to me under the staircase. I was sobbing too hard to get any words out. But she was there, comforting me. She was letting me know that I’m okay, that I’m beautiful, and that this was going to pass. And it did pass. It did. I am just so glad I met her. That day under the stairs was such a turning point for me. I was going through so much. I can honestly say I don’t think I’d be here talking to you right now if I never met Ms. Lorenda. She literally changed the trajectory of my life.”

Read the rest of Lily’s story at the link in our bio.

05/09/2025

“Now, I have a 99 average. I want to be a doctor when I grow up, but it worries me thinking about how long it will take and how expensive it will be. Mr. Esposito is my AP anatomy teacher. He is the most phenomenal teacher I have ever had. He did seven years of medical school but then decided he wanted to teach instead. To inspire people like me. He has helped me to find my passion. Seeing how much knowledge he had and how much he had that was actually useful and can actually help and save people. I’ve dissected a frog, a pig, a bird’s brain, a sheep’s brain. One day, I’d love to dissect part of the human body. I find it all so interesting.”

Tune in this week for our our special teacher appreciation highlights.

Read the rest of Yassein’s story at the link in our bio.

05/08/2025

“I was just a kid, but early on, I found a type of love and support from the adults in my elementary school. My teachers looked out for me — my guidance counselor and school psychologist especially. They had lunch with me every week. It gets me emotional, now, just thinking of all they did to support me. You know what they would say? Ethan, you are capable. Ethan, you are kind and compassionate. Ethan, don’t let what other people think about you influence how you see yourself. You have so much to give the world. My family was going through tough times economically, and it was hard because I didn’t have both parents. But the adults in that school, they’d help me sometimes, even with things like Christmas gifts. They’d give my family and I food when I needed it. They were there for me.”

Tune in this week for our special teacher appreciation highlights.

Read the rest of Ethan’s story at the link in our bio.

05/07/2025

“My first day of school, I spoke no English. I tried to understand people by their body language. Right away, Ms. Macaluso made me comfortable. You can tell by the way someone looks if they care about you. Every day, she did nice things for me. And if she didn’t see me one day, she would come to check for me the next. I don’t know why she cares about me so much. Why all my teachers do. But you know what I think? Your family isn’t always who you are born to. It’s the people who love you. Like Ms. Macaluso.”

Tune in this week for our our special teacher appreciation highlights.

Read the rest of Lamine’s story at the link in our bio.

05/05/2025

“Inside our school, we belong to the World Language and Cultures Academy. It’s for kids like us who come from other countries. The cool part is that a lot of our teachers are immigrants too. They understand things from our vantage point. It’s like a second household, basically. Like a bunch of different moms, all in the same building. It’s really comforting, all these safe people in one place. Ms. Munoz, she’s my guidance counselor. She immigrated from Colombia. I can talk to her about anything.”

Tune in this week for our our special teacher appreciation highlights reel for this year’s Students of NYC.

Read the rest of Alexander’s story at the link in our bio.

04/17/2025

“I remember that day in school — I was not having a good day. I had gotten marker on my new overalls and I was so upset. When my mom came to pick me up, I didn’t want to tell her, because you know how moms can be when you get your clothes dirty. But she was smiling and happy, and my aunt had come with her too. I was like, okay, I guess they don’t mind the marker. We went back to the house and she sat me down. I wasn’t thinking about the ‘The Lion King’ on Broadway audition at all because you know, I was young. She set up a camera and I looked around, like what the heck? And she said ‘guess what? I got a call today.’ I said, ‘oh my gosh, did I get “The Lion King”’? When she told me, my dad and my grandmother came out and surprised me, and I started to cry.

I still remember my first show. I was behind the curtain practicing and could hear the noise of the theater. And I’m like, oh my God, I have not felt this feeling before. All these people are talking about, ‘I can’t wait to see the show.’ And it’s a lot of pressure. I have to do really well. But then it starts, and I feel natural, comfortable. When I’m on that Broadway stage, it’s like being in my own world. You can’t really see anything but these bright lights and then the dark beyond it. And I like it, honestly, having all that attention on me.”

We were so excited to interview Farrah, our first Broadway star, and an 8th grader at Tompkins Square Middle School! Read the rest of her story at the link in our bio.

04/04/2025

“My first alarm goes off at 3:25 a.m. I like being able to close my eyes and rest a little bit more. But I have to be up by just after 4. It takes two hours to get to school, and the first bus I need to get on before 6 a.m. But it’s worth it. Then I have classes 1–7, and the minute the last bell rings, I go to flag football practice. Practice usually ends after 6 p.m., so I get home around 8:45 or 9 p.m. The first thing I do is sit on my floor. If I touch my bed, I’ll fall asleep. So I get out my homework and do whatever I have to related to school, college. I make sure not to touch my bed. If I do that, I’m worried I’ll fall asleep. I do everything school-related on my floor, college stuff, and then watch my films from practice. I like to see what I did well, what I can improve.”

Stay tuned for the rest of Lyric’s story, or read the rest at the link in our bio.

03/21/2025

“I have four jobs right now. McDonald’s, Retro Fitness, LA Fitness and Uncle Sal’s Burger and Wings. I just put my availability and pick up shifts everywhere I can, so I work almost every day. I try to keep myself busy, because I don’t really like wasting my time. I’m also getting certified to be a beach lifeguard for the summer. That’s one of the best jobs you can get. Financially, I didn’t grow up with a lot. I compared myself to the kids around me and the opportunities they had. But then I realized, I can just make the opportunities for myself, and make my life into whatever I want it to be. Right now, I’m saving up money for a car.

In 9th grade, I was different. I didn’t really know what I wanted yet. I was always being compared to my older siblings, and I didn’t have my own identity yet. I didn’t do great in school. People can keep telling you stuff, but you’re not going to change until you genuinely want to change. That’s what happened to me. Once you want something, you can really achieve it. No one can really push you get anywhere. It’s all you versus yourself.”

Stay tuned for the rest of Yassein’s story, or check it out in the link in our bio.

Students of NYC

06/20/2025

06/15/2025

06/06/2025

06/03/2025

05/09/2025

05/09/2025

05/08/2025

05/07/2025

05/05/2025

04/17/2025

04/04/2025

03/21/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category