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“AP Sattar told me about a grant opportunity. She knew I was creative and passionate about teaching others about plants....
10/31/2025

“AP Sattar told me about a grant opportunity. She knew I was creative and passionate about teaching others about plants. I created a Canva slideshow. I made a mission, and we thought of a name: The “Rhythm and Soil Garden Club.” Plants can be challenging, and I wanted to show that in the presentation. So we showed how to treat a pest infestation. What bugs can come and do to a garden is crazy — it happens so fast. We wanted to show that even if we faced problems, we can handle them. With the $5,000 we got, we decided to invest in a hydroponics lab. We chose this garden because it’s able to grow into fruits and vegetables. Being here, in our school, it could take planting beyond just beauty. To see what it could produce. That’s why plants are amazing — they show us we can do anything, even help kids who may not have food as often as they’d like. We’re going to harvest everything at the end of the year and plan an event in our school community where we can eat what we’ve grown. I’m passionate about this club, but I’m a senior, and after I graduate, I’ve given the next kids a baseline. That’s why the grant was so important to me. It’s not just about getting things in the moment. It’s about planting seeds for the future.

Every time I interact with a plant, they teach me something new. Plants teach you perseverance. Not everything comes at once. I connect this with my journey through dance. At the beginning of my journey, there were times when I felt stuck. Taking care of all of these plants has taught me that things take time. It’s a process. If you cut a plant in any place, it will keep growing and sprouting from where it was severed. People — we are the same.”

Gregory was so phenomenal, we made him into a series. Here is part one of his first post. Stay tuned for the rest of part one, or read it now in the link in our bio.

"AP Sattar told me about a grant opportunity. She knew I was creative and passionate about teaching others about plants....
10/31/2025

"AP Sattar told me about a grant opportunity. She knew I was creative and passionate about teaching others about plants. I created a Canva slideshow. I made a mission, and we thought of a name: The "Rhythm and Soil Garden Club." Plants can be challenging, and I wanted to show that in the presentation. So we showed how to treat a pest infestation. What bugs can come and do to a garden is crazy — it happens so fast. We wanted to show that even if we faced problems, we can handle them. With the $5,000 we got, we decided to invest in a hydroponics lab. We chose this garden because it’s able to grow into fruits and vegetables. Being here, in our school, it could take planting beyond just beauty. To see what it could produce. That’s why plants are amazing — they show us we can do anything, even help kids who may not have food as often as they’d like. We’re going to harvest everything at the end of the year and plan an event in our school community where we can eat what we’ve grown. I’m passionate about this club, but I’m a senior, and after I graduate, I’ve given the next kids a baseline. That’s why the grant was so important to me. It’s not just about getting things in the moment. It’s about planting seeds for the future.

Every time I interact with a plant, they teach me something new. Plants teach you perseverance. Not everything comes at once. I connect this with my journey through dance. At the beginning of my journey, there were times when I felt stuck. Taking care of all of these plants has taught me that things take time. It’s a process. If you cut a plant in any place, it will keep growing and sprouting from where it was severed. People — we are the same."

Gregory was so phenomenal, we made him into a series. Here is part one of his first post. Stay tuned for the rest of part one, or read it now in the link in our bio.

"Our class trip to the Tenement Museum changed a lot for me. We met Clint Smith, the author of How the Word Is Passed. ...
10/26/2025

"Our class trip to the Tenement Museum changed a lot for me. We met Clint Smith, the author of How the Word Is Passed. He talked about hidden history—how things that are supposed to mean one thing can have a deeper, more complicated meaning that gets covered up. I read the chapter about the Statue of Liberty and learned that there are shackles under her robe, near her feet. The original design actually showed the shackles in her hand to represent the abolition of slavery, but they changed it because people didn’t want to be reminded of that history. Clint Smith said something that really stayed with me: there is power in knowing something is there. Once you know, you can’t unsee it. I think that’s true for everything. When you learn about something you were ignorant to before, you start noticing it everywhere. That’s how I feel now. In APUSH, my teacher Ms. Pinto showed us pictures from textbooks where slavery was portrayed like people were smiling and having tea. Like as if they were happy, not mistreated every single day. She showed us a picture of a man who had whip wounds on his back, and we learned that they're trying to remove it from curriculum or textbooks because actually because they want to hide America's history. I don't know why some people get to dictate whose story gets to be heard. We shouldn't be afraid to talk about America’s dark history. Like what we talked about with Clint Smith: it’s not about blaming, it’s about accepting what was wrong so we can grow. You can’t fix a problem if you don’t admit it’s there. That idea connects to real life too. People tease me for saying sorry too much—but to me, it’s a meaningful word. Sorry can be a strength. It doesn’t make you weak. It means you’re acknowledging how something you said or did made someone feel. I try to carry myself in a way that spreads positivity, not negativity. And maybe that’s why I love this school so much. My classmates are all so different—Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Dominican, Colombian—but when we talk, we realize how similar we are too. Like when Catherine saw a broom and an oil lamp in the Tenement Museum that reminded her of her own home. Everyone jumped in, realizing we all had versions of that same object in our lives. The average person-- we have impactful stories, and they deserve to be heard. Those are the stories I love hearing most."

“I used to think that a test score decided everything—what kind of student you were, what kind of future you’d have. But...
10/24/2025

“I used to think that a test score decided everything—what kind of student you were, what kind of future you’d have. But looking back now, I’m so grateful I didn’t do well on the SHSAT. If I had, I probably wouldn’t be at this school, surrounded by people I admire so much. My dad always said, it’s not about where you’re learning, it’s about how you learn inside of it.
At Queens Gateway, we do more than just study. We listen to each other. We have seminars instead of debates. Debate calls out who is wrong. Seminars make room for understanding. They give you space to really listen. It can give you a new perspective, or strengthen the one you have. Conversations become more intricate. That’s what happens in our classrooms. We acknowledge the other person’s belief, and say, I may not agree with how you feel, but I’m willing to listen to you. Spreading love is much more impactful than hate will ever be. Once you spread hate to another person, they are more likely to spread hate to you back. Then, you’re down each other’s throats. And what good comes from that? I honestly respect my classmates so much. Their voices and how they carry themselves is so amazing to me.”

Stay tuned for the rest of Sara’s story, or read it now in the link in our bio.

10/23/2025

We’re back baby! So exciting doing my first SoNYC interview this year at . Sara’s story drops tomorrow!! Don’t sleep on it:)

“I move a lot. So I don’t have a neighborhood, but I always stay around the school. The school neighborhood is my neighb...
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.”

“There were a few times I wanted to quit. It was too much — high school classes, nursing coursework, track practice, a p...
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.

“My full name is 23 letters long. ‘MORIREOLUWAGBANILEALAYE.’ It means ‘I’ve seen the goodness of God in the land of the ...
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.

“Some say I do too much, but I never feel that way. On Tuesdays I take swimming classes. On Thursdays I attend YWCA meet...
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.”

“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 ...
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.



“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 ...
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.



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