By SUZANNE VALENZA
Each year the JerEcho publishes a report honoring the seniors on our staff who are members of our New Media Communications classes. With so many reporters working on pandemic articles, this year’s honoring is by the JerEcho advisor. It is my sincere privilege to share what is special about this unique group who gave so much while staying positive and strong during a time of extreme loss.
Rachel Schreibstein
Leaders set the tone for a group, and this year’s Editor-in-Chief Rachel Schreibstein successfully made our group more caring and compassionate. Rachel said, “What I loved most about New Media was that our class felt like a family.”
She values the strong friendships she made and the many class discussions we had. “We could share our opinions freely without fear of being judged. We could discuss pressing issues going on in our community and think of possible solutions to then share with others,” she said.
Rachel advises the younger members to do what makes them happy instead of what everyone else thinks they should do, since she believes that life is more exciting when one follows one’s passions.
Rachel Schreibstein will attend Duke University next year majoring in biology or neuroscience. Rachel values teamwork. “Our staff is always there for each other whether it is a college acceptance, a good grade on a test, or a birthday. It was by no means a typical class, and I loved every second of it,” she said.
Rachel, go live your dreams because they are sure to come true.
Katie Margolis
Katie Margolis is our Executive Editor who will attend Duke University and major in biology on a pre-med track. Katie was a model of responsible leadership. She knew what needed to be done, did it, and always held herself and the JerEcho to the highest standards. Katie appreciated the atmosphere of our class. She said, “My favorite part of New Media was the supportive classroom environment that we developed. Every day I could walk into class knowing I would be surrounded by people that will help me grow and succeed.”
Often Katie would bring issues to the group and we would share and discuss these topics that often resulted in new posts. Katie shared how much this meant to her. “I learned to listen to and appreciate other people’s points of view and how to incorporate those into my own understanding of a subject,” she said.
Katie grew to become an excellent mentor to our younger reporters. “The older students always helped me advance my reporting and editing, and I enjoyed passing that on to the younger students in our class,” she said.
Katie Margolis feels ready for her future. “New Media has prepared me to always speak out for what I believe in and to accept challenges as opportunities to learn more,” she said.
Katie, we are forever grateful for all the gifts you gave us.
Matthew Rothstein
Our Senior Managing Editor Matthew Rothstein is attending the University of Miami next fall and majoring in business. Matt most enjoyed the atmosphere of our New Media Communications course. He said, “It was brilliant that a group of people who may not be friends outside of school were able to bond and collaborate and create such a unique classroom experience.”
Matthew Rothstein believes in forging his own unique path. “I tell the younger members of New Media to not stress about school so much and try to enjoy life in high school as much as you can,” he said.
Matt learned to go out of his comfort zone and follow through on what he believes is right.
Matt, keep on your righteous path!
Lauren Steinberger
Lauren Steinberger’s 4 years in New Media have been very special. She especially appreciated our circle conversations. “Although talking in front of large groups is not my forte, our class is truly a community that listens to one another and makes each other feel comfortable to talk about anything,” said Lauren.
Lauren improved her writing and gained confidence during her time in New Media Communications, and now feels more prepared for her next 4 years at the University of Maryland. Her advice to younger members is to face their fears and challenge themselves.
For Lauren, New Media is much more than an elective. “My relationship with Ms. Valenza has developed so much over these 4 years and I am going to miss her and this class so much,” she said.
Lauren, your courage will take you anywhere you want to go!
Leetal Prezelmayer
Leetal will attend the University of Florida with an undecided major, however she is considering business or pharmacy.
Leetal feels she has grown so much as a reporter and a person since her first class freshman year. She has become a better writer, learned editing skills, and how to produce every medium in detail. Leetal feels that the New Media class is not a class, but a “family within the school.”
Leetal hopes that New Media’s younger members can create a family just like she and her friends did in the class.
Leetal is grateful for what the class taught her about working well with others.
Leetal, continue brightening up all the groups you join with your infectious positive spirit.
Jason Choi
Jason will attend Baruch College next year and major in actuarial science.
Jason feels strongly that New Media was an important part of his academic career because it helped improve his writing and communication skills. He particularly enjoyed covering topics that interested him. Jason appreciated the opportunities to work with others in our class. “I liked being able to work together with a little more independence than a traditional classroom,” he said.
Jason gained the ability to be more comfortable while going out to interview, and he got better at communicating.
Jason’s advice for younger New Media members is to not let yourself get complacent. “You have to work hard to finish your work because there are other people who are affected by a lack of effort,” he said.
Keep making connections to others, Jason, and share your wonderful qualities with them.
Jayden Kupferman
Jayden will attend the University of Maryland with a major in public policy. She enjoyed every moment of New Media, especially bonding with the other students. According to Jayden, her 4 years in New Media Communications has not only provided valuable skills that she will use in her future, but it has also given her “classmates with who I know I can always rely on.”
Jayden is happy to have gained so much in her time in New Media. “I have learned a lot about how to conduct interviews, put timely news articles together, and also about how to work with all different students and faculty in order to cover current events in the school,” she said.
Jayden advises younger classmates to cherish the time in high school because it goes by so fast, and to always think about the end goal of whatever they are doing because all the work leading up to it will be worth it in the end.
Keep working hard, Jayden, and we know you will reach your goals.
Alexa Albicocco
Alexa’s next chapter in life will take place at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she plans to major in business.
Alexa enjoyed many aspects of New Media over the course of 3 years. “This class has helped me grow as a journalist and I have learned writing skills that will definitely be helpful in college,” she said.
Alexa appreciates the atmosphere of the New Media class. “I will certainly miss the sense of community in the classroom,” she said.
Alexa suggests that the younger members of the class stick with it for all 4 years of high school. “This is a special program and you should take advantage of the unique opportunities this class will bring you,” she said.
Alexa, your commitment to community sets you apart from others. Keep making connections wherever you go.
Mariam Khan
Mariam loved her time in New Media Communications and how it helped her to get to know the school community more. She said, “Now I’m more inclined to communicate with others and explore things I’m curious about.”
Mariam appreciates how the course helped her to connect with the media and the events around her.
After 3 years in the program, Mariam advises her younger peers to learn from the difficulties, but don’t let them hold you back. She suggests they the enjoy experience, as it goes by faster than one expects.
Mariam will take a gap year and begin college in the fall of 2021 with a major in communications.
Enjoy your next adventure, Mariam, and may your gap year prove to be a remarkable learning experience.
Sophia Kim
In the fall, Sophia plans to a major in biology at the University of Connecticut.
Sophia gained confidence and unique techniques in journalism. She said, “The meaning of New Media to me is fast communication between anyone around the world at any time.”
Her advice to the younger course members is not to waste a single day of their senior year.
Sophia thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in New Media, and those spinning chairs!
Sophia, your confidence will serve you well as you take on the world of science.
Andrew Kwon
Carnegie Mellon University will welcome Andrew this fall as he begins a major in creative writing. Andrew began his year in New Media by organizing with other students to attend the Fridays are for the Future march and rally in lower Manhattan.
Andrew is grateful for what he learned about publishing a newspaper in an online format. “New Media has been a comprehensive way for me to understand how a newspaper runs, and it also was a place of ease and an area where I could relax,” he said.
Andrew was a New Media student for only 1 year, but he is surprised at what he was able to accomplish.
Andrew, keep writing and sharing your gifts with the world!
Larry Ding
Larry plans to major in journalism at the University of Southern California. He enjoyed writing and publishing articles for the JerEcho. Larry feels his 3 years in New Media were very important in his life. “New Media is the beginning of my learning journey in the field of journalism and communications,” he said.
His advice for the younger members of the class is to do what they enjoy doing and learn what beat they like working on.
”My experiences in New Media introduced me to the world of journalism and its applications in a school environment,” he said.
Larry, go out there and get those stories, and make sure you keep us posted about all your future reporting success!
Wonderful article on such exceptional students, some of whom I was also lucky to have in my classroom. Congratulations, seniors!
Congrats to all of our seniors! Thanks for all you’ve contributed to new media and we will miss you in college!
Congratulations to all the amazing seniors! I am thankful to have met some of the most amazing people in Jericho High School. I wish you all the best in college.
Congratulations to all the seniors!!! You’re all going to do amazing things and I’m going to miss seeing you all in class so much!! Thank you for being role models to me for the past 3 years! 🙂
Thank you Ms. Valenza for the teaching me so many great and valuable lessons throughout my four years of high school at Jericho. I’m going to miss you and especially the spinning chairs! Congratulations Class of 2020!
Congratulations and good luck seniors !! We’ll miss you all and thank you for all the memories
Thank you for writing such a thoughtful article! Congratulations to all the seniors this year, best of luck in college. It has been such a meaningful year with everyone.
Congrats Seniors! Good luck in college
It saddens me to read this article and see great friends and mentors leaving our class for the first time in 3 years. However, I am happy they will all be doing great things in college and beyond. Good luck to everyone in college!
Thank you Mrs. Valenza! I wish I took New Media for more than just a year but I looked forward to your class everyday. Thank you for teaching me about journalism and being a great person. I’ll visit you every year 🙂
I am so happy that I was able to be in New Media with the most amazing group of seniors. Congratulations for all of your hard work and determination! I know you’ll all accomplish amazing things in your future!!!
Congratulations to all the seniors! Thank you for the amazing advice, and I wish you the best of luck in college. I know you all will accomplish great things!
Congratulations to all of the New Media Seniors! You all gave great advice and I know you’ll all do great things in the future!
Congratulations and good luck to seniors! Thank you for your advice and I’ll miss you all!
Congratulations guys!! Excited for you all!
Congratulations seniors! You all have been such great role models and have contributed so much to the JerEcho. Good luck next year!!
I congratulate all my fellow seniors on all the hard work we did over the past four years. Thanks for being a great class and good luck on all your future endeavors.
It has been a wonderful 4 years. Thank you Ms Valenza! We will miss you and New Media so much. You have taught us so well.
Congrats to all the seniors!! I wish you all the best of luck in college! Such an amazing article!
As a senior, I can definitely say that this group of students is the most driven and caring. Oh the places we’ll go!
I am so lucky to have been in a class for the last 3 years with such an amazing group of seniors. I thank our seniors for making new media my favorite class to be in. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you guys do in the future!
Congratulations and good luck to the seniors! Thank you so much for all the advice and for being the best role models!!
I congratulate our seniors for all the hard work and dedication that they have put into this newspaper over the last 4 years. Thank you always for the amazing advice and help. Good luck to you all in the future! (And come visit 🙂 )
Thank you for writing this beautiful report and thank you for being an amazing teacher! I will miss our New Media family incredibly.
I want to congratulate every senior who has contributed to the JerEcho. I am so lucky to have worked with such a hardworking group of people these past four years. Best of luck to all.
Loved this article so much! I hope I get to see the seniors again sometime!! I appreciated all of the advice to soak up and enjoy our time in school as much as possible…with the pandemic cutting our school year short, I think it served as a wake-up call that we need to be more present in our lives and enjoy the moment. Best of luck next year to all the seniors! <3
Congratulations on graduating, seniors! All of these people have accomplished and contributed so much, and I am sure they will go on to do so much good in the future!
These are all amazing seniors! Congratulations on making it through high school and enjoy college life!
I am so grateful for all of the lessons this class has taught me. I’m going to miss this family so much next year.
Thank you Mrs. Valenza! You are a very special person and teacher. You foster a safe place for students to explore their passions and truly learn. I am grateful that both my sons were able to be part of your class/family. The Rothstein’s will miss you and wish you all the best always.