Saved By The Bell (HS Edition): Extracurriculars
By Tiffany Ho
My podcast is part of a series where I, an upperclassman, will give high school advice to underclassmen. Personally, I didn’t have much guidance in my transition from middle school to high school. It was overwhelming to sort out my social life, my academics, and then my extracurriculars. There was a lot of pressure from everyone to do many things, explore different fields, and get out of my comfort zone. I want to help any underclassmen feeling this way, and I want to share my experiences as a lesson to help them go through high school more successfully.
Process
My mentor first pitched the idea of creating a podcast to me after a workshop with Girls Write Now. Together, we brainstormed a list of topics that I could possibly talk about, and I settled with one that felt most personal to me, as well as one I am most knowledgeable about. I downloaded Anchor, which is surprisingly easy to use, to create the podcast. The most difficult part about creating it, however, was getting used to hearing my voice on audio and learning to enunciate and slow down my speaking so I can project my voice.
Meet the Pair
MENTEE TIFFANY HO & MENTOR KATIE REILLY
Tiffany’s Anecdote: Meeting Katie was one of the best parts of Girls Write Now. I came into the relationship thinking I needed to impress, but her empathetic and uplifting personality made it easy for me to be myself. Our weekly coffee shop meetings quickly became the highlight of my week; together, we explored writing genres that I wouldn’t have done by myself. She became someone that I trust, and she has guided me not just with my writing, but also through college applications and academic stress. I can’t thank Katie enough for being an amazing mentor and making this such a positive experience.
Katie’s Anecdote: Whether we’re meeting at the New York Public Library, taking our place in a space that’s home to the literary work and history of countless other writers, or in a coffee shop, I’m always surprised and impressed by the creative twists Tiffany incorporates into her writing. She has brought to life a dream-like subway encounter with a mysterious magician, the beauty of a lush backyard jungle hidden from the city, and a dystopian world wrestling with feminism. Every week, I look forward to our meeting and to the thoughtful, funny observations that continue to shine through Tiffany’s work.
Tiffany Ho
Tiffany Ho is a class of 2020 Girls Write Now mentee based in Queens, NY.
