Soundtrack of our childhoods: What are the memorable songs from your childhood?
Cassius E. Any Michael Jackson / Lost by Frank Ocean / MGMT HM
Violet H.
Heury U.
When I was eight, I always listened to Waka Waka by Shakira which brings me back so much nostalgia.
Ben Y.K.
Lonesome Town by Ricky Nelson and Pompeii by Bastille.
Sasha H.
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen, Part of Me by Katy Perry, and Poker Face by Lady Gaga are just some examples of songs that bring me back to my early years of childhood.
One of the songs I feel was the most nostalgic from my childhood was a song my dad used to sing to me when I was younger, called Black Bird by the Beatles. It was like a lullaby song for me.
Ari B.
AJ S.
The song "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz is nostalgic for me. It was so catchy when I was younger.
Maggie C.
I would say I listened to a lot of artists, including Shakira, Mana, Selena, as well as musicals, Latin, pop, and rock. One of my favorite memories would have to be when my sister and I danced around our room to "Loca" by Shakira.
Amber H. Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, Firework by Katy Perry and two songs by Lady Gaga, Just Dance and Bad Romance.
I know there were songs from movies I used to watch several years ago, just those regular Disney movie songs. And also I did love the song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, for example
Henry A.
I loved Umbrella by Rhianna!
Zoe S.
I love it by Charlie XCX was my Jam when I was younger.
Lyla A.
Shut up and dance with me by Walk The Moon. Oh, MGMT also.
Ptolemy C.
I remember listening to Trap Queen by Fetty Wap with my mom and my sister when I was 11 years old, usually in the car.
Caleb G.
I guess Black Bird by The Beatles, I still listen to and my dad would always play.
Maya M.
I feel that "Octopus's Garden" by The Beatles is a truly nostalgic song for me. I just remember dancing around with my mom and my sisters to that song, and just imagining what an octopus's garden would look like. It's the upbeat, fun tunes, the background music, and the little instruments that really connect people.
Avery .
When I was writing this special feature, I discovered that a common theme was everyone found the Beatles' songs nostalgic. I think it is because the Beatles are comforting to people and have rhythms that stick to you.
What TV shows are the most nostalgic to you?
Zoe S:
I really enjoyed watching The Bubble Guppies, Lego Friends and Teenage Ninja Turtles. The show Curious George freaked me out a little bit. He is creepy. I was raised by mostly boys so they put me on to Thomas the Train Engine. I use to watch a lot of sports as well. I was watching it all. I watched some of The Descendants, Season 1 and 2, but not Season 4.
Lyla A.
Sasha H Fairly Odd Parents, iCarly, The Powerpuff Girls, Liv & Maddie, Jessie, and Victorious.
Ari B
OMG, some of my favorites have to be: My Little Pony, Sofia the First, Kim Possible, Victorious and Big Time rRsh! They definitely shaped the kind of person I am today.
Cassius E
I loved watching Stranger Things and the show BEEF.
Heury U
My favorite childhood show would be...gravity falls.
When I was young, I watched a lot of morning and Saturday morning TV with my brother. My brother and I also liked to watch Power Rangers and Avatar. I really loved the Sitcom Good Luck Charlie and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
Ben YK.
I enjoyed watching a show called FA Blades that showed people spinning tops.
AJ S.
My favorite show to watch when I was young was the Amazing World Of Gumball and Adventure Time.
Caleb G.
I really liked to watch The Amazing World of Gumball and Adventure Time too.
The best pizza shop in Brooklyn: (where we dine)
I like getting Pizza at a place in Bushwick. HEURY U.
I would say, My Little Pizzeria, to be honest. That place is really good. I also like Table 87, even though it's really expensive.
HENRY A.
387CourtSt,Brooklyn
BEN Y.K.
LILA A.
Maggie C.
There is a pizza place called Pizza Town near my house that I like to go to.
I liked a place called Mike Daddy’s on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope that my family used to go but then we moved, so now we don't really have a good pizza spot. It was my childhood pizza joint that I would go to very often. At Mc Daddy’s, we would get a Margarita Pizza to share as a family. There are some places around where we go to school that I like. I like the one across the street from Trader Joes that is called Pronto Pizza. Pronto Pizza has great toppings on their pizza. I got the Caesar salad pizza once and it was very tasty.
I think Lucali’s is the best. It's pretty damn good. Baby Luke's by Carroll Gardens is also very good. The quality of their pizza is amazing.
AJ S.
One of my favorite pizza place to go to is Spumoni Gardens. There is a great pizza places by where I live near Dumbo called Juliana’s. I would go to Fascati’s in Brooklyn Heights by Brooklyn Bridge Park a lot too.
Caleb G. I like Pizza Plus on 7th and 10th Street. But I also like Smileys, which is more of like classic from my childhood, on Seventh and Ninth Street.
ZOE S.
In the Lower East side the pizza is not that great. I think that My Little Pizzeria is really good. They have really great garlic knots. Pizza in Brooklyn is underrated.
Maya M. I really love Table 87 because there's one right next to my house There's one also near our school on Atlantic, really close to the Piers But it's really good. It's not really New York City pizza. I love New York City pizza. Of course. Best New York City pizza, honestly, any pizza place in New York City is so good. It's hard to mess up. They're different, but it doesn't mean they're bad. But Table 87 has margarita pizza, with thin crust, and its really nice and yummy.
Ptolemy C. The best pizza place in Brooklyn is Antonio’s Pizzeria.
Matthias C. My go to pizza spot would be Uncle Frankies which is right by my house near Prospect Park.
Growing up in the melting pot: Do you think you would be different as a person if you didn't live in a culture-filled city?
Growing up in the melting pot: Do you think you would be different as a person if you didn't live in a culture-filled city?
Violet H.
Probably, I do think living in such an active city for all my life has left a huge mark on my life!
Sasha H.
So I grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn which isn't exactly classified as a city in itself as it's a mixture of both city and suburbia. I feel that yes I would probably be different as a person if I didn't grow up in NYC. While I don't live in Manhattan, the most known part of NYC; I do go there quite often to shop or just hang out.
I also have gone to school in Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens my whole life, and those three adjacent neighborhoods are very different from where I live. Therefore, it feels like I've been raised in different worlds and in addition to that, my grandparents live in Coney Island so I was partly raised there.
So I guess maybe I'd be less well rounded if I didn't live in NYC but that's probably because of various exposure to different foods and culture. I think it also may be because my whole life I've gone to a Quaker School while being brought up in a Slavic Jewish Household…so receiving a diverse upbringing helped with forming my own persona.
Cassius E.
Growing up in Brooklyn and going to MMFS definitely shaped who I am. MMFS is tiny, pretty quiet and intimate, compared to a lot of high schools around. Despite not experiencing a big high school, I don't feel isolated from the city because just walking to Jay Street showed me how big and diverse NYC is. There are so many different cultures, people speaking different languages, celebrating different holidays. I’d go to friends’ houses and see totally different traditions from my own. The contrast between my school and the city life really taught me a lot.
Everyone comes from a different background, and that’s something to respect and learn from. If I hadn’t grown up in a place like Brooklyn, I think I’d be a lot less aware of the world outside my own. Living here made me more thoughtful, more understanding, and more connected to people who are different from me.”
Maggie C.
I don't know about other places, but in New York City, I have gotten used to… I have become pretty independent with walking to school every day. I don't know how easily I would be able to do that if I lived in some other place, depending on where other places are. As a kid in New York City you can get a lot of independence, and when I see things around the city or around Brooklyn some of it looks not so safe. There are some crazy people out there. But when I see them, I just simply keep walking.
I have become pretty independent with walking to school every day.. Up to this day, I still need some practice with the subways. I generally get the idea of which subways go to which places I usually go to. Its really just the subway where I struggle with directions sometimes. I have to FaceTime someone, and be like, which way do I go?
I would go to bring your kid to work day with my parents every now and then. When I was young around 2011, I would always miss my mom as she went to work. It always felt like a very lucky moment when my mom would ask me if I wanted to come to work with her when I had school. It was a pretty unique experience to learn about basically how her office worked and what it was like to work in the city.
Maya. I would definitely be a different person.
AJ S.
I was born in Manhattan. But I moved to Brooklyn at a very young age, like two. I moved to Brooklyn Heights when I was young and now I have started to live in Dumbo.
I don’t think I would be that in touch with different other cultures around me because New York City is like a melting pot. So there's a lot of different cultures you can experience so I probably wouldn't be as in tune with that if I did not grow up in New York City.
As a Filipino-American I have Filipino family members that live by Flushing, Queens in the city so I have visited that area often to explore my own culture. What is special about being a New York and having access to my culture is I have been able to talk to the locals there, and eat their food.
So that's how I get in touch with my culture. New York City is very special because people come from all over the world to try to get a better experience.
Ari B.
I think I would be different as a person but also not that much. I always loved seeing how boroughs of New York have their own little communities for different people, ethnicities and cultures!
Henry A.
Yes I would be different, especially with being exposed to different cultures. And like people who are not the same as me...If I lived somewhere else out of New York City...probably would have, less free will because when we live in a city with like a lot of transit, like you can kind of travel on your own at an early age and hang out with your friends and explore.
Zoe S.
I mean Manhattan's pretty vanilla I'm used to the lower side where I live though.
Avery T.
Do you think you would be different as a person if you didn't live in the city?
Zoe S.
I would probably have a chiller personality. I'm like pretty outgoing, so I think the city shaped me for sure.
Avery T.
What do you think was the most exciting about living in New York as a child?
Zoe S.
I guess just like going on the subway as a kid and going to different museums with my mom, and walking around the city to explore.
Lila A.
I think like just being exposed to so many different types of people.
Caleb G.
The most exciting part about living in NYC was going to the park with friends because there are so many great parks in our city like Central Park. Kids get independent significantly earlier than other people in America. You travel without your parents at like middle school age, which is pretty nice.
Heury U.
My life is very influenced by the New York lifestyle and how people act around me and stuff. So if I like lived in a different type of area than New York, I would be very different.
“If I lived outside of NYC...I'd probably be more chill. Like I'd probably be, you know, very, very quiet. living in New York is a very like, loud place. It's a fun place. Especially like where I come from, being loud is a “big thing.”
Avery T. What’s the most exciting part about living in NYC?
Maya M. Especially living in Brooklyn, it's very grounded in the with community that are very close, and there are always events going on. It is the main place where everything happens. Everything comes to New York, so there's always something going on that is inclusive of families, adults and kids. There are always just fun stuff to do, everything is close so you can walk to things. It is awesome.
We want to hear your stories about what put a mark on your life in terms of your social/cultural awareness growing up in NYC. Do you think you would be different as a person if you didn't live in a culture filled city?
Ben YK. When living in Brooklyn, you don't really need to leave it, unlike other boroughs because there is so much you have access to already in the neighborhoods. Most places are in walking distance. I think there's so much that if I lived in other boroughs, I'd be better at using the train.
Violet H. Probably, I do think living in such an active city for all my life has left a huge mark on my life!
Sasha H. So I grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn which isn't exactly classified as a city in itself as it's a mixture of both city and suburbia. I feel that yes I would probably be different as a person if I didn't grow up in NYC. While I don't live in Manhattan, the most known part of NYC; I do go there quite often to shop or just hang out. I also have gone to school in Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens my whole life and those three adjacent neighborhoods are very different from where I live. Therefore, it feels like I've been raised in different worlds and in addition to that, my grandparents live in Coney Island so I was partly raised there. So I guess maybe I'd be less well rounded if I didn't live in NYC but that's probably because of various exposure to different foods and culture. I think it also may be because my whole life I've gone to a Quaker School while being brought up in a Slavic Jewish Household so receiving a diverse upbringing helped with forming my own persona.
Ptolemy C. When growing up in NYC you get a lot of different perspectives, and communities because as New Yorkers we have every major group of people living in the city. You get a lot of experiences and opportunities.
Avery T. What has been the best experience you have had when living in NYC?
Ptolemy C. When going through prospect park you can see Hispanic and Black people having a barbeque or cookout. Also, what fun about the parks in NYC is you can go to Coney Island and see a whole swath of diverse people.
Matthias C. Whenever you are in Prospect you can smell the barbecue food from your heritage which is nice.
How has YouTube shaped where you go, what music you listen to, and what you like? Do you think YouTube and Vloggers have influenced your childhood?
Cassius E.
100% for most of my childhood I would use YouTube to learn and for entertainment. YouTube is very influential, especially for young audiences, and I think it has shaped me.
Ari B.
Youtube is still a place where I can find new artists and watch some of my favorite youtubers from around the world. If I never had Youtube, I would have never known about this small artist called 'Godric incarnate', and if I never found him, I would have never found out about HIM (the band) and Type O Negative. I think Youtubers like Jessii Vee and Laurenzside, really let me figure out what I wanted to focus on in life, which is being creepy and being myself!
Sasha H.
Up until age 10, I never really watched Youtubers except for toy or stuffed animal ones. When watching those types of videos, I would be envious of the kids who had more toys or dolls than me and would often beg my parents for more. I think that being exposed to Youtube and those channels specifically where kids would play with their toys or showcase their collections negatively impacted my outlook on life because it made me believe that I needed those things to be happy when in reality that was not true. I didn't realize how good I had it for so long and I think I would have been way more appreciative if I was oblivious to videos like that. I think Youtube and social media in general makes it way too easy to compare ourselves to others that we see on the internet.
How has YouTube shaped where you go, what music you listen to, and what you like? Do you think YouTube and Vloggers have influenced your childhood? If so, how?
Heury U. I don't watch YouTube as much as I used to, but I'm mostly watch TikTok and Instagram. Like YouTube, I like it's, YouTube is more of like an helping thing that I use. So it hasn't really like shaped me as a person, I would say, I used to watch more bloggers when I was younger.
What kind of bloggers would you watch?
Heury U. Steven Cher and a family channel, like those types of people.
Lila A. I don’t think YouTube has shaped the way I am today. I use to love watching Emma Chamberlain on YouTube because I love going back to her old videos. They're the best. I love how authentic she is and just like, she's so fun. She's funny and was my favorite YouTuber.
Avery T. Do you think you were influenced by Emma Chamberlain?
Lila A. I don't think she influenced me as a person but I do like watching her. I would watch Emma during middle school, but I don't think I would consider that to be my childhood. I used to just watch music videos when I was little on YouTube on my parents Ipad.
EmmaChamberlain:
Maya M. I feel like when I used to watch YouTube so much when I was younger, and now there's so many other social media platforms that people share their lives on. I love Emma Chamberlain. She's like the it girl of the new generation.. I love her vlogs when she comes to the city. Those are my favorites because she has done Met Gala vlogs.
Caleb G. When I was younger, I used to watch Minecraft videos. I think so. A lot of social media informs us in general as young people.
How has YouTube shaped where you go, what music you listen to, and what you like? Do you think YouTube and VLoggers have influenced your childhood? If so, how?
Ben YK. I still watch a lot of YouTube. I'm a big YouTube guy.
Avery T. Ben, do you think YouTube and bloggers influenced your childhood any anyway or like any kind of like show you used to watch.
Ben YK. I always watch YouTube for a vast range of everything when I was younger, and I still do. I kind of need to still watch a good YouTube video while I eat.
Avery T. When you were younger were you a gen z Ipad kid?
Ben YK. Yeah, all the time. I would watch gaming videos.
AJ S. I used to watch a lot of YouTube especially during COVID. When we could not hang out with our friends as we use to at our house, when MineCraft started to be pretty popular during that time I watched a lot of videos on Tecno Plane.
Showtime culture in Manhattan:
Have you seen showtime before in New York? Is it culturally worthy? Is this more of a New Yorker kind of thing? Showtime is when African American boys show off their breakdancing routines on the subway or music and play hip hop music from a speaker.
#onlyinNY
Henry A. When I went to Times Square to try to see Charli XCX for a pop up concert and I missed it. But then we were just chilling in Times Square and we saw some people doing many different dance tricks. The dances people do can be pretty crazy.
When I went, and they also really stretch it out. And so we didn't, we like, you know, they were like gathering people to do like some really big thing and then it took to much time so I left. But I mean, I don't have strong opinions about it.
I think it is a fun surprise when people come into a subway car and play like music or do their hip hop flipping. Although, sometimes when it's like eight in the morning or really late at night. Its also fun to see mariachi bands come on to a subway.
Avery T. Showtime in New York culture is unique because it can always be a surprise to someone when they see it on the subway or in Union Square or in Times Square. It shows the kind of energy that comes from our city. Young boys turn the music on, dance and they start to almost float through the air— gliding across the ceiling and swirling around the poles which brings joy to people...
Sasha H. I've seen showtimes happen in subway rides multiple times but am actually not sure if this happens anywhere else besides New York.
Ari B. I've seen a few people playing music in the subway and it always makes me want to move along to whatever song they're playing, whether its a jazzy tune or a 90s song coming from their speaker. I think with all the different cultures of New York, you get to see one of the biggest music scenes and get to hear different lifestyles which i think is beautiful.
Cassius E. Personally I don't go to Time Square much but I think it holds cultural worth and its a part of what makes NYC special.
Have you seen this before in New York? Is it culturally worthy? Is this more of a New Yorker kind of thing? (Think: Its SHOW TIME IN TIMES SQUARE or in a big Subway station!!)
#onlyinNY
Maggie C. I think Showtime is fine. I don't mind them. It's just that it's where it gets pretty crowded sometimes. I don't know. I feel like there are some parts of New York, I am not so okay with. Some experiences I've had in our city, I really think about.
AJ S. I don’t really see that much of the hip hop dances and shows by young boys on the subway or in Times Square anymore. I have wondered why there are very few ShowTime shows these days. I always thought they were very impressive.
Caleb G. I usually ignore it if I'm with people who aren't from the city. They like to watch it, but it's kind of like a tourist scam, but it's still cool.
Avery T. How do you think it's a tourist scam?
Caleb G. I have found that they won't actually do, they'll wait like 40 minutes and do a bunch of little stuff before actually doing the like, big jump or whatever, and they'll just be like, collecting money. At least like half of it until actually jumping at the very last second. You hardly ever see it if you don't wait like an hour. All I mean is the music performers are more in like the subway, but like those jumping guys, I assume in Times Square all the time.
Maya M. I think it is culturally worthy because it's entertaining people when they're walking down the street, they want something cool to look at. The city is so busy that everyone stops and makes a circle around it, and vibes to the music. You can really appreciate the street dance art when you are on the subway and just take your earphone out and you get free entertainment in the city.
I have seen Showtime in Times Square. I've seen it in Lower Manhattan on the subways all the time. You see hip-hop or people will bring drums, they'll do dances and climb on stuff and put music on . And the poles. Sometimes people will do their own music, bring a plastic bucket and start playing drums. And another person will be doing their own thing. Its always the best when you find a drummer in the subway and they start whipping out a beat.
They want something cool to look at. I feel like the city is so busy that when those types of things happen, everyone stops. And just makes a circle around and just watches. It stops their life for a second. You know, vibes to the music. Or just stay on the subway. Take your earphones out for a second. You appreciate the music for a moment. You know, you enjoy the entertainment. The free entertainment of the city and that’s what I love
Henry U. Showtime is really fun. I like it. It's a very like funny thing to watch.
Avery T. Do you think it's more of like a New York kind of thing or, yeah, it's very New York oriented type of thing?
Definitely. I've only like really seen it in New York. I feel like I've only seen, like, for example, here and like Times Square.
Henry A. It is very culturally relevant. There are street performers everywhere, but I think specifically show Showtime is like very specifically New York because you usually see it on the subway.
Best Celebrity Sightings
Violet H.
I swear I saw Christian Slater (JD in Heathers, the dad in the new Dexter) looked me dead in the eyes, smiled and got on the train as I got off. It’s those rare subway moments...
Sasha H.
The only celebrity sighting I've experienced was in May 2022, when Anne Hathaway and Peter Dinklage filmed She Came to Me right by our school. I still have the video where a lot of us including myself were screaming Anne Hathaway's name right through a classroom window for which she even shushed us as we were sort of disturbing the filming process. I still feel guilty of that.
Ari B.
I once saw the lady who plays the mother who got possessed in 'The Conjuring', in line while waiting to see a movie. She looked at me and smiled and I did the same.
I wanted to say hi because I LOVE that movie and it shaped my love of horror but I didn't want to disrupt her.
Caleb G. I saw Ann Hathaway outside the school building once. I've seen her four different times because she lives in the neighborhood of where we go to school. I teach TaeKwonDo and I saw her and one of her kids at a birthday party where I was working. So I saw her there for a few hours which is cool.
Balthazar
80SpringSt,NewYork,NY
Cassius E. I actually saw Chris Pine at the French restaurant named Balthazar in May. I have also seen Peter Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, John Turturro, and Matt Damon. Ben YK. I've seen a couple celebrities at Books are Magic where I work in Brooklyn Heights, and I see a lot of celebrities. I have seen Lin-Manuel Miranda and Claro at the book store. Claro was really nice when I saw him.
AJ S. I often see Peter Dinklage the actor from the Game of Thrones on Clinton St. who lives in the neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights. I think his daughter goes to Packer Collegiate by Mary McDowell Friends School.
Celebrity sightings?
Henry A. I saw the actors from Sex in the City, at a flower shop in May on Bergen St. who plays Steve.
Heury U. I saw Kai a few summers ago when he came to New York, and there was a big crowd.
Zoe S. I see many celebrities at concerts. Recently I saw one of the most popular models at the moment named Alex Consani on the street. In Soho you can literally see any celebrity or famous TikToker when you are walking on the street. I see many models often. I see people coming to my work who are pretty famous.
Avery Where do you work?
Zoe S. I work at Brandy Melville at the SoHo location. I had Suni Lee come into my work the other day who won the golden medal at the Olympics. I was not able to take a picture with her because I get my phone locked away, but I saw her by the register.
Also, I've met Gracie Abrams. She is my best friend's mom’s lawyer, so I'm like, oh, I always go to her. I have known a lot of artists through some of my friends.
Have you met or seen any of your idols in our city?
I have seen Harry Styles at a concert and we had a special moment. When he was on stage he noticed me and we made eye contact.
What you will miss when you leave high school?
Heury U. Probably like the environment, friends, teachers, you know, it's like all the little things that people would say that they're not gonna miss what they do.
Maya M. I have seen so many celebrities. I saw Trevor Noah when I was eating dinner once when I was in middle school when I was reading his book at school. At the restaurant he was just eating dinner next to my family and I.
He was just eating dinner next to us. He's the best. It was just crazy. I have seen Matthew Gray Gubler, The guy from Criminal Minds when he was walking around some street. That was awesome. We were just walking around. There's so many others that I can't even remember. Oh my god, I saw Paul Rudd across the street in June. I think his kid goes to the school Packer near us.
Are there any celebrities you really remember seeing when you were really young?
When I was really young, my mom work with the Nets as a massage therapist and massage their tight muscles. One time I got to meet the Nets when my mom brought my sister and I got to go to her workplace. When my sister and I went to meet the team we were so blown away by how our mom worked with the Nets players and I was like “woah you know my mom”. It was exciting when I got to meet a team like the Nets that is based in Brooklyn, as I am a Brooklynite.
I was like oh my god, this is crazy. I was like my mom. She sees them every day. And they're like hey Amy, what's up? And I'm like you know my mom. Yes.
What you will miss when you leave high school?
The community is so pure at times and theres always love in the air. I like how everyone is trying to be caring.
Lyla A. I'm gonna miss a small community because I will be going to a bigger college.
I loved having many teachers.
Many Interviewees: Our community! Sasha H.
Definently plenty of faculty and my thespian friends. I'll miss performing but hope to have another oppurtunity doing so in the future.
Ari B. I will miss the people i see everyday, the music, the craziness, the sounds (like cars, honking, motorcycles, etc.), and the city in general since I'm leaving to go to college in New Jersey. (Also one of my favorite places, like the park above the highway right next to pier 6 is a place I'm going to miss). I agree with Ari because even when were in school you can still feel that New York energy and buzz.
Amber H. My classmates, teachers and best friends
Cassius E. All my friends.
Henry A. All of my friends like Lola, Anna, Lyla and many others.
Ben YK. I'll miss certain aspects like the small community at MMFS. I'm going to miss playing video games with my friends during my free times. Gonna miss playing in the tournament but I'm very excited to leave high school and go to Pace University to study special education in the city.
AJ S. I will miss all my teachers who supported me in these past 4 years. In college there will be a lot more people to be around compare to Mary McDowell Friends School which will be hard. I will miss Aniru the counselor, John Michael, and John Papa. I feel John Papa was one of the best teachers I had.
Caleb G. I will miss all my friends and the tight-knit community that you cannot find in public schools.
Maia W. I'm going to miss just being a teenager in New York City. And having so much responsibility. So much independence. Yet not that much responsibility. You know at the same time...Just like you're living in New York City. You're living the life. And you don't even have that much responsibility. You're not paying taxes. You should feel free. The stress I have is just doing my homework for the next day. But I can just walk outside and like I don't need to worry about having my own apartment. You know, like doing all these things. I have my parents. You know. I'm just a teenager. I can jump the turnstile. I'm a student.
What is your #1 afternoon hangout spot?
Many Interviewees: 1. Juju or prospect park
2. Barnes & Noble, Five Below, or Vivi's Bubble Tea.
Ari: My house, it’s pretty boring, but I like to watch shows with my sister or watch her play videogames so I'm updated on the lore. Ha. LORE. LORE. LORE. 3. Sweet home old home.
Cassius E. Table 87,the park and the gym.
Zoe S. We often like to go to the pier which is nice. We like to go to each others houses and hangout around Brooklyn Heights near our school. We all love to go out and eat together
My friends and I like to go out to get Chipotle. Its our spot.
Avery T. Do you think Chipotle is better than Dos Toros?
Zoe S. I go to Chipotle once a week, and it tastes a lot better than Dos Toros.
Chipotle bowl is better, but the Dos Toros burritos are tastier at the Brooklyn location. I have gotten to know the people who work at the counter. It's like I have to get a picture with them before I graduate.
Ben YK. I really like a picnic and Central park with a good book with my friends. That's always nice.
Avery T. Where do you think most seniors go?
Some of the seniors like to go thrifting.
Caleb G. My friends and I don’t stay by Brooklyn Heights too much but we like to go to Court Street Bagels.
Who is someone in your grade who makes your grade special?
Many Interviewees: 1. Everyone.
Sasha H. My friends Maggie, Violet, and Ari!
Ari B. My friend Violet because she adds a sense of spooky to the grade and just because she’s my best friend lol.
Cassius E. My friends from school.
Heury U. Probably Ptolemy, he's like one of my closest friends, so he, he's always been there to help and stuff, so I think I will remember him.
Ben YK. I like Lila. She is pretty awesome. She is a very good encapsulation of our grade.
Caleb G. I would probably say Mathias, he's one, he's like my best friend and we do a lot of things together and he's a very good runner as well.
Ptolemy C. Someone in my grade that is the most special is Matthias, Caleb, Jesse, and Ben Y.K but not anyone in particular.
Tell me about the best concert you have been to in NYC? How was it so exciting and any special moments?
Violet H. I don't go to many concerts but probably Melanie Martinez or Caravan Palace, it was exciting because I love the music and I was with my friends Ari: I've been to many life altering concerts, but I would say the top 3 would be: Mana, The Trilogy tour and Caravan Palace! Mana was my first concert and was one band I heard throughout my childhood a lot. We, by some chance of fate, got floor seats to be closer to the stage/set! With the trilogy tour, I got to see how my childhood dream formed over the years and I got to see the growth of me and the character. And with Caravan Palace, I got to dress in my 1950's dress and swing dance like it was the '60s to some good electro jazz! Amber H: I went to go see "Broadway Sings Taylor Swift" songs at The Cutting Room with my best friends and had so much fun!
Tell me about the best concert you have been to in NYC? How was it so exciting and any special moments?
Heury U. Yes, I have.
I've seen Baby Tron and I do remember the last I went to called, it was Justin Bieber. It was like, it was like my first concert and I just like really enjoyed myself.
I went to see Justin Bieber when I was like 10 at the Barclays Center. It was so amazing.
Avery T: That's a classic venue. Okay, Brooklyn Kid.
Henry A.
I have seen a Beyonce concert, but that was in MetLife, which is kind of New York, but not really. She is a very good performer and the crowd was excited was I was there which was fun.
Lila A. I saw The Pixies in Forest Hills last June. It was pretty awesome.
Avery T. If you leave near Park Slope by Ditmas Park, have you seen shows at like the band Shell?
Lila A. I have only seen one show at the Bandshell. When I saw a concert at the Bandshell during the summer my friend had an extra ticket and she asked me to come with her. That concert space is very nice in Prospect Park.
Avery T. What was it like to see one of the most popular Indie Rock bands, the Pixies that made Indie music famous? During the concert they played all their hits and it was so fun. My friends and I went and there were many middle aged dads there.
Was that your first time seeing a show there? No, I haven't. It's so nice outdoors.
When I saw the Pixies, the sun was like setting. It was warm. Oh my goodness. It was a total vibe and there was great food at the venue.
Ben YK. I'm usually not a concert kind of person, but in April I saw Kendrick Lamar at Met Life Stadium. The chemistry on stage was very well done, and I also a big Hendrick fan, so. Seeing it all the his best songs live is a lot fun.
AJ S. I went to Travis Scotts concert back in 2023 at the Barclays Center with three friends outside of school. It was a very fun time. They played a song called fiend 14 times which was pretty exciting and there was a mosh pit. It was my favorite concert to go to.
Caleb G. It was like a few years ago, I went to one of the Kendrick concerts, which is really fun. He has some really powerful songs. Kendrick is a very smart writer, so a lot of his lyrics are very interesting and nice to listen to.
Maya M. I've been to so many concerts. I really love going to Govball. That was really fun because I feel like it's just a fun activity. It takes up your entire day and you don't just see one person. It's like the same thing about like everything comes to New York City. New York City is the main spot. It's a very cultured place, especially for music. It's the most important part of the culture. It's some rap, some rock, some indie, some house music. It's everything. That's why I love it so much. It's different every year, there are different artists every year. It's a three-day long event. It's awesome. All music, that's why it's so awesome because it's like New York City, one of everything. There's really one of everything.
So I feel like at Govball, a lot of the artists were like because it’s just a mix of different kinds of music.
I'm from Queens. It's so good to be back. Talking about their childhood and how their music affected, how living in Brooklyn and New York affected that. Govball is always awesome because it just encapsulates New York. Everyone has a cool outfit. It's like the Coachella maybe of New York City.
By Avery T.
For the next three years until I graduate from high school, I want to document the stories of my peers—the unique ways we’ve experienced New York’s cultural identity. I have used certain times of my past summer, winter break, and spring break to research old New York art history with the downtown art scene from Andy Warhol's incredible and Innovative work as well as Jean Michel Basquiat, the writer Fran Lebowitz and Keith Haring's lives. When I learned about the downtown art scene and its artists I wanted to create something that was about the old feeling of New York with its stories that would be different. I wanted to understand with this Lighting Press special feature series what the graduating classes perspective was on culture and if they had any stories to tell about their time living as a city kid living in New York city. I originally came up with this idea for a graduating class-themed Lighting Press issue, when I got inspired by the writer and artist Kim Hastrieter's work. She founded a magazine called PAPER Magazine that is all about culture and the arts. I found her this spring when she was written about in New York Magazine when she talked about her new book called Stuff, a book about the Cultural chaos from the kinds of memorable objects from the decades she's lived in New York. She wrote about her experiences from the downtown art scene, including meeting the former first lady Jackie Onassis at a pretty but punk clothing store, being photographed by Bill Cunningham the style magazine editor, seeing how pop art evolved, living through the times of the New World architecture project, and collecting pieces from the media from 9/11. The other kind of culture I have been deeply inspired by is her time at the Mud Club and Studio 54 in the 80s she made connections with different clothing designers. I wanted this article to be on the overall consensus of different students' thoughts on the neighborhoods they lived in groups like for different boroughs. Also for this, I got inspired by looking at New York magazine's style section, which is called (Look Book). I was attracted to the graphics from the approval matrix articles from the last few years, and stories they did on a magazine spread of different peoples thoughts on culture in New York. For example, the newest issue for March 24-April 6th, titled “Things New Yorkers should Know” in most bodegas sell stamps displaying the iconic culture of New York and the neighborhood character that has interviews with well known New Yorkers.
For the next three years leading up to my high school graduation, I'm excited to dive into the unique stories of my classmates and their experiences with New York culture especially those that other classes might not have had the chance to explore. I've spent parts of my summers, as well as winter and spring breaks, researching New York’s rich arts culture, particularly its downtown scene. I’ve been captivated by the incredible and innovative works and character of artists like Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, fKeith Haring and the writer Fran Lebowitz. As I learned more about this vibrant art scene, I felt compelled to create something that encapsulates the old-school essence of New York, with all its fascinating stories.
What I envisioned is a special feature series for Lighting Press that focuses on the graduating class's perspective on culture—those stories unique to kids growing up in the city. The spark for this idea came from the work of writer and artist Kim Hastrieter, who founded PAPER Magazine, a publication dedicated to culture and the arts. I stumbled upon her this spring when she was featured in New York Magazine discussing her new book, called STUFF, A New York Life of Cultural Chaos. This book reflects on the memorable objects she has collected from the decades she's lived in New York. She wrote about her experiences from the downtown art scene, including meeting the former first lady Jackie Onassis at a pretty but punk clothing store, being photographed by Bill Cunningham the style magazine editor, seeing how pop art evolved, working at a new world architecture project as a college student, and collecting pieces from the media from 9/11.
YokoandJohn
I was also inspired by her experiences at iconic nightlife spots like the Mud Club and Studio 54 in the '80s, where she made connections with various clothing designers and pop artists. I originally wanted this article to reflect a broader consensus on students' thoughts about their neighborhoods across different boroughs but because of time I was only able to interview the graduating classes thoughts on how culture has impacted them in our city. In exploring this topic, I drew inspiration from New York Magazine’s old New York story series, known as the Yesteryear Issue. My goal for this article was to illuminate the diverse experiences that shape us as city kids in New York, delving into the stories that make the graduating classes perspective of culture special. As young people, we’re shaped by countless influences, and it’s not just the city around us that exposes us to culture; our parents play a massive role too. Sometimes, we don’t fully understand the psychology behind how someone matures or finds their identity, but the experiences we’re given become the paintbrushes that color our lives. Growing up in New York City, much of who I am today has been influenced by my parents guiding me toward meaningful causes and vibrant art scenes. I remember being in elementary school when my dad introduced me to Anthony Bourdain’s videos, the rich history of Hip Hop in NYC, and the creativity behind modern artists. He opened my eyes to the skateboard culture of Los Angeles, the rawness of 80s and 90s punk rock, and music that resonates with the soul—music that comes from a place of genuine human thought, not just electronic beats. My dad taught me that being curious and trying new things helps us think critically. This is why so many New Yorkers tend to be progressive; we’re fortunate to receive quality education that challenges us with diverse perspectives every day. This is a world apart from those MAGA Americans, many of whom lack that same curiosity and ability to see beyond the surface. One reason Trump has pushed to defund universities is the fear that stems from not wanting newness something radical; these individuals often fear the culture and innovation that NYC embodies. Punk culture represents the DIY spirit—it’s about crafting your own life and breaking free from the constraints of mainstream media and traditional norms. This is the essence of why culture thrives in New York City; it opens minds and stirs change. It’s clear why NYC draws so many visitors each year—it’s a beautiful, chaotic tapestry of life. I could write an entire love letter dedicated to this city and how profoundly it has influenced me. New York is woven into my very being, inspiring me and reshaping my perspectives on life, especially in how I engage with the streets. I truly believe New York City is a melting pot of cultures, nationalities, languages, and spiritual beliefs. It’s a spaces where diversity flourishes, creating a vibrant and dynamic tapestry of life. Now everyone has got to visit some classic restaurants this fall break- check out Shopsins at Essex Street Market and Veselka in the Village.
From generation Z. One of the last of the MMFS Gen Z students.
