Writing an op-ed for The New York Times is an accomplishment in itself, especially for someone as young as 14-year-old Veronique Mintz. She wrote about her frustrations and experience with teachers and student behavior just as New York City public schools made the switch to distance learning in March. In her op-ed, Mintz wrote that distance learning has been better for her education because it was easier to concentrate without distractions. Among the attention she received, Hudson’s Western Reserve Academy reached out to offer her a spot at the school.
Before the pandemic], I was really upset with the way the teachers managed students, but I also recognized how disrespectful the students were and how that also was extremely tough for a teacher to handle.
I’ve complained for awhile how unhappy I’ve been in public school. And my mom said to me, “This is the perfect time, you could write an article.”
I have a close friend. His mom works at The New York Times. She read it over and she really liked it, then she gave me feedback. She submitted it to one of the people in the op-ed section.
An editor got in touch with me within a day. She basically gave a bunch of comments and edits on it. She had a different perspective on certain things that I argued. They definitely made it less aggressive.
I had started a debate that I didn’t really know is there. I never knew that people were fighting for distance learning before.
Writing this op-ed opened up so many doors, [such as] being able to get out of my public school, that I was really unhappy at, and go to such an amazing place like Western Reserve Academy.
Speaking your truth is really important, and you shouldn’t be so fixated on what other people think because it’s your perspective. — as told to Molly Heideman
