Being 12

"One thing I would like to change about the world would be to help poor countries with Ebola, food and shelter." --Teddy Silverstein  I.S. 318, Brooklyn, NYC 

"I look up to my uncle, a great guy. His name is Sal as well. He sacrificed his life for thousands of Americans in 9/11." --Salvatore Calabro  I.S. 7, Staten Island, NYC

"Yes, there is drama at our school like people saying stuff about people behind their backs, and it happens most of the time." --Jennifer Sherpa  Hunter's Point Community Middle School, Queens, NYC

"I want to be a vet when I grow up." Kristian Payne  I.S. 318, Brooklyn, NYC

"My dream is probably to be a famous artist one day." --Olivia Gilliam  Poly Prep Country Day School, Brooklyn, NYC

"Some things my friends like about me are that I am nice, polite and I am useful." --Wilmer Martinez  Emolior Academy, Bronx, NYC

"My parents are always nagging on me about making my bed. And it just confuses me. No one is going to be in my room but me." --Rachel McCain  LREI, Manhattan, NYC

"Something I would like to change about the world is to stop all the violence and keep people from getting killed every day." --Stephon Bronston  Emolior Academy, Bronx, NYC

"The best day would be playing soccer, then going home and having a cupcake." —Lily Parks  LREI, Manhattan, NYC

"It's going to be hard for me to do more athletic stuff when I'm older because I won't be able to run as well. So I'm excited for the next 10 years of my life." --Juliet Homes  LREI, Manhattan, NYC

"My best friends are my mom and my dad—besides my friends in school—because I can always talk to them about anything." --Ronald Tibball Jr.  Hunter's Point Community Middle School, Queens, NYC

"I take care of my little brother. Sometimes I have to cook and I have to wash the dishes." --Dakota Law  LREI, Manhattan, NYC

"I am a kid because I don't have as much responsibilities as others older than me." --Julie Bogad  I.S. 7, Staten Island, NYC

"I have a chicken in my apartment and her name is Butter." —Ruby Hutchins  LREI, Manhattan, NYC

"When I grow up I want to be the best football player in the league."  --Albert Gomez  Emolior Academy, Bronx, NYC

"Since I’m confident in my style, I know if someone bullied me about it I would just say, 'You’re just jealous because I have a unique style that you don’t.'" —Sophie Levit  Hunter's Point Community Middle School, Queens, NYC