Inspirations
Sharing what we know
Meet Ian, an activist and performing arts student
Tell us about yourself and your experience living in NYC.
*
I’ve been living in Kew Gardens for the past two years, but before that I used to live in nearby Forest Hills, and for the first couple years of my life I lived in Brooklyn.
I love everything about the City. I love how diverse New York City is. I like all the landmarks. I like where everything is and all the boroughs. I like visiting different parts of different boroughs—maybe so I can try some food, maybe so I can try an attraction, maybe just so I can get a little more acquainted with those areas.
If I had to say what my favorite parts of NYC are, I would definitely have to say Astoria would be one of them. When it comes to the Bronx, I like going up to the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden—and City Island I cannot get enough of because I love seafood. In Manhattan, I usually like hanging around areas like the Upper West Side where Central Park is, near Juilliard and LaGuardia [High School]. I also like going to Christopher Street in Greenwich Village.
What are you up to this summer?
I work with a Youth Leadership Council (YLC) as a gardener.* I currently volunteer at the Discovery Community Garden in South Jamaica, Queens, and I do a lot of gardening tasks, such as weeding, watering, picking trash up off the street, mulching, and planting. This is my second year at the YLC. I started last year in April.
I’ve had an interest in nature, not so much as something I would want to do for a job—I want to try to prioritize the arts—but I went to camp for eight years, and I used to always be surrounded by the woods. It was very artistic for me. I have to say going to camp was one of the best experiences of my life, so I figured I should get myself more involved in nature this summer.
I also joined the YLC because I wanted to make a difference in my community, even if that difference was small.
More Inspirations
Ayesha, 15
Ayesha talks about finding community, joining a Youth Leadership Council, and the importance of mental health support for NYC teens.
Read MoreLyndon, 22
Lyndon shares his journey from being on probation to working with probation clients and what motivates him.
Read More