Mentee Allison spent her summer in NYC networking, building skills, and meeting her mentor in-person for the first time.
Allison, a rising first year at University of Texas Austin, was one of a select number of high school students accepted to the School of the New York Times’ Summer Academy, a two-week journalism program that provides immersive experiences and classes for youth.
“Being a part of Girls Write Now, an engaging experience of writing, diversity, and creativity, encouraged me to apply for The School of The New York Times,” Mentee Allison Sengkhounmany said. “Writing and creative communities are so important and without a doubt, having Girls Write Now made me want to push myself to seek more opportunities.”
Her mentor, Delesia Watson, said that she was “elated” when she found out about Allison’s acceptance to the program.
“I know how much she (Allison) loves writing and how hard she works, so it was special to see her rewarded in such a distinguished way,” Delesia said. “Through the program, she was able to add to her real-world experience, and also expand her network with young professionals from all over the world.”
Not only did Allison get to network with a new cohort of writers, but she also got to see a very important person in person for the first time: her mentor.
“The icing on the cake was being able to meet for the first time in person!” Delesia said. “Since she’s based in Texas and I’m in New York, all our mentor-mentee interactions have been over Zoom or by phone. But just a few weeks ago, she penciled me in to grab a bite before heading to a Broadway show with her cohort. A time was had! I truly believe the best is ahead for Allison and I’m excited to have been a small part of her journey to greatness.”
Coming from Amarillo, Texas, Allison said that she experienced a kind of “culture shock” coming to New York City, but that the experience “made [her] summer.”
“One of my favorite memories from the trip was going to The New York Public Library,” Allison said. “The picturesque aesthetic, the display of artifacts, and the architecture exceeded my expectations. Every aspect of my experience built upon one another, but the most valuable part of my experience was what I learned about myself. In spite of my doubts and worries about my passion for writing, taking this course reassured me that although I know the journey isn’t easy, I can take pride in what I do because it truly is a wonderful gift.”