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Interview with Aryana M. '24, current Fanfare Editor-in-Chief
interviewed by Megan J. '28
See reprint of one of her Middle Division articles after the interview.
Do you remember your time in the MD newspaper club, and if so, what is your best memory?
My best memory in the MD newspaper club was the brainstorming sessions we would have each month. It was so intriguing to hear what each club member was interested in and how it translated into their articles. Mrs. Ellinor always took interest in our work and what we had to say, and it inspired me to be more confident in my writing.
Did your time in the MD newspaper influence your decision to join Fanfare?
Yes, it certainly did! I had initially joined the MD newspaper club for fun because I knew I liked to write. I soon realized that the Bugle allowed me to share the voices and stories of other members of the community through my writing. The Fanfare editor-in-chief reached out to me at the end of my 8th-grade year and invited me to continue my journalism career throughout high school. Because I discovered my love for journalism in the MD club, I decided that joining the Fanfare would allow me to develop my writing skills and grow even more.
What is your favorite story you have written?
My favorite story I have written was a profile story I did on a student who was very passionate about music. I wrote this while attending Columbia University’s journalism program, and it was especially difficult because I was interviewing someone who I had never met before and had no knowledge of. It was through interviewing and talking with her for an hour that I was able to find a story. Because I wanted to include my experience talking with her in the feature article, the piece became more of a column. This article was particularly interesting to me because I had never included myself in a journalism story.
Have you won any other awards since you won the honorable mention in journalism for “Girl on the Football Team” in Middle Division?
“Girl on the Football Team” was the only award I won in Middle Division; however, I have won several awards since. In 9th grade, my feature story “Helping the Heroes” won a Gold Key in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards. I wrote about Mrs. Cleary’s emotional experience as a volunteer for the 9/11 recovery workers. More recently, I received a National Award and American Voices Medal from Scholastic for a critical essay I wrote about WEB DuBois’s theory on double consciousness. I also received an international award for a column I did on Air Force 1s, which was one of the more fun pieces I’ve written.
What advice would you give to aspiring journalists?
The best advice I have received from more experienced journalists is to find the story in everyone. There are always things we don’t see about each other, and these things can only be discovered through interaction and listening. This is why I especially love feature stories. As a journalist, I have always believed that it is my job to tell the story of others, and I encourage aspiring journalists to do the same.
Reprint of articles from Middle Division Days- The following article won a Scholastic Writing Award- Honorable Mention in Journalism
The Girl on the Football Team
The Girl on the Football Team
Aryana '24
According to Statista, approximately 5.22 million people in the U.S play tackle football. 1,008,417 million of them are students. 1,006,013 are boys, but only 2,404 are girls. To reiterate, out of the 5.22 million tackle football players in the United States, only 2,404 are female students, and one of them attends Berkeley Preparatory School.
According to Statista, approximately 5.22 million people in the U.S play tackle football. 1,008,417 million of them are students. 1,006,013 are boys, but only 2,404 are girls. To reiterate, out of the 5.22 million tackle football players in the United States, only 2,404 are female students, and one of them attends Berkeley Preparatory School.
Adriana Price, an 8th grader in her third year at Berkeley, has started playing tackle football on a team for her first time. It was something Price had desperately wanted to do since 6th grade. However, she would have to make sacrifices and convince her parents to allow her to play. "At first, they were really hesitant about it," said Price, "but I convinced them that it would be ok." Her brother had been particularly troubled, "He thought I was going to get hurt really bad." Nonetheless, after a considerable amount of convincing, her family was willing to let Price play football.
Adriana Price, an 8th grader in her third year at Berkeley, has started playing tackle football on a team for her first time. It was something Price had desperately wanted to do since 6th grade. However, she would have to make sacrifices and convince her parents to allow her to play. "At first, they were really hesitant about it," said Price, "but I convinced them that it would be ok." Her brother had been particularly troubled, "He thought I was going to get hurt really bad." Nonetheless, after a considerable amount of convincing, her family was willing to let Price play football.
Her parents and brother weren’t the only ones worried. “My first reaction to her playing football was negative,” said one friend, who echoed the sentiment and concern of Price’s companions. While some were disquieted, other kids in Middle Division were not as convinced. “I didn’t believe she’d sign up,” J.T Dickey, her teammate, said, “then I saw her name on the roster.” Price considered all factors, including the outside input on her decision; regardless, she still signed up for football.
Her parents and brother weren’t the only ones worried. “My first reaction to her playing football was negative,” said one friend, who echoed the sentiment and concern of Price’s companions. While some were disquieted, other kids in Middle Division were not as convinced. “I didn’t believe she’d sign up,” J.T Dickey, her teammate, said, “then I saw her name on the roster.” Price considered all factors, including the outside input on her decision; regardless, she still signed up for football.
During the fall of 2019, Price had joined the Middle Division Berkeley Preparatory School football team as the sole female member for one essential reason: “I wanted to be unique,” she simply states, “I really wanted to start something new that a lot of people didn't do.” And not only was she unique, she was phenomenal. As the weak side outside linebacker of the team, tackling was something Price excelled at. Middle Division football coach Justin Houston seemed to think so as well. “Arguably our best open-field tackler,” he says. With no previous experience, Price had surely earned her position and respect on the team.
During the fall of 2019, Price had joined the Middle Division Berkeley Preparatory School football team as the sole female member for one essential reason: “I wanted to be unique,” she simply states, “I really wanted to start something new that a lot of people didn't do.” And not only was she unique, she was phenomenal. As the weak side outside linebacker of the team, tackling was something Price excelled at. Middle Division football coach Justin Houston seemed to think so as well. “Arguably our best open-field tackler,” he says. With no previous experience, Price had surely earned her position and respect on the team.
Watching from the stands, it's often rare to see a girl on the field, but Coach Houston had welcomed a female player in the past. Morgan Orebello was the wide receiver for Berkeley in 2009. She played football around the same age as Price.
Watching from the stands, it's often rare to see a girl on the field, but Coach Houston had welcomed a female player in the past. Morgan Orebello was the wide receiver for Berkeley in 2009. She played football around the same age as Price.
It wasn’t always easy though. Football was full of new experiences for Price, both good and bad. For instance, she was shocked to see herself in the uniform, consisting of hefty padding, a bulky helmet, and tight pants. “I didn’t think it looked like me,” she laughs, “I was like- I don’t look like that!” But Price had gotten used to it, especially the transportation of all her gear. Her teammates had a separate locker to keep their gear in; however, she didn’t have a locker that was large enough. Price had to take her hefty gear to and from school everyday. Her first football practice was additionally another anxious moment for Price. “I was very nervous,” she explains, “I don’t think a lot of the boys in 6th and 7th grade were comfortable with the idea at first.” Moreover, Price says tackling others was awkward and also hurt; however, she enjoyed it at times, “It definitely feels really good because you’re like- I’m a girl and I just tackled a boy,” she says.
It wasn’t always easy though. Football was full of new experiences for Price, both good and bad. For instance, she was shocked to see herself in the uniform, consisting of hefty padding, a bulky helmet, and tight pants. “I didn’t think it looked like me,” she laughs, “I was like- I don’t look like that!” But Price had gotten used to it, especially the transportation of all her gear. Her teammates had a separate locker to keep their gear in; however, she didn’t have a locker that was large enough. Price had to take her hefty gear to and from school everyday. Her first football practice was additionally another anxious moment for Price. “I was very nervous,” she explains, “I don’t think a lot of the boys in 6th and 7th grade were comfortable with the idea at first.” Moreover, Price says tackling others was awkward and also hurt; however, she enjoyed it at times, “It definitely feels really good because you’re like- I’m a girl and I just tackled a boy,” she says.
While all her teammates had a separate locker to keep their gear in, Price didn't have a locker that was large enough. She had to take her hefty gear to and from school every day. Walking through the hallways with her backpack hanging from one shoulder, gym bag in one hand, and her heavy gear in the other, she can easily be spotted among a crowd.
While all her teammates had a separate locker to keep their gear in, Price didn't have a locker that was large enough. She had to take her hefty gear to and from school every day. Walking through the hallways with her backpack hanging from one shoulder, gym bag in one hand, and her heavy gear in the other, she can easily be spotted among a crowd.
Out of the 2,404 female, student football players in the U.S, most like Price can agree that playing football is no big deal. “I think everyone should be very gender inclusive about what they do,” she explains. Football can essentially be played by anyone. Price proved that gender isn’t a restriction nor an excuse. In the end, she had contributed her skills and abilities for a simpler, greater purpose: the victory of her team. Award-winning print and broadcast journalist Germany Kent summed it up perfectly: “Champions make adjustments not excuses.”
Out of the 2,404 female, student football players in the U.S, most like Price can agree that playing football is no big deal. “I think everyone should be very gender inclusive about what they do,” she explains. Football can essentially be played by anyone. Price proved that gender isn’t a restriction nor an excuse. In the end, she had contributed her skills and abilities for a simpler, greater purpose: the victory of her team. Award-winning print and broadcast journalist Germany Kent summed it up perfectly: “Champions make adjustments not excuses.”
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