Q: How long were you in the Voice? What position(s) did you hold?
Alice: 3 years. I was a staff writer, then Humor Editor, then Editor-in-Chief.
Geoffrey: 2 years as the Web Editor/Social Media Manager
Geetika: 3 years as a staff writer, Humor Editor, and Editor-in-Chief.
Q: What college do you go to today/ graduated from? What field are you going into?
Alice: I am at USC, majoring in communication and I have minors in East Asian area studies and consumer behavior.
Geoffrey: I go to the University of Maryland in College Park, and currently I’m majoring in government and politics and information design.
Geetika: I go to UC Davis, majoring in political science and economics. I want to work in environmental law for a couple of years before I go into academics as my full time career.
Q: Why did you want to join the Voice?
Geoffrey: I think it just seemed really cool; I found ways I could be creative, but it was also crucial that I make an impact on my community. There has always been a lot going on in Irvington, and it’s kind of a unique position to be in the newspaper, to report on those things firsthand. You have the opportunity to report on things that happen, not only within the school community, but within the broader community as well.
Geetika: I was in journalism in middle school, and I love getting to speak to such a broad range of people, from the principal, the vice principals, to the students. It’s such an interesting way to gain perspective about the different types of people who are at your school and I thought that was really cool.
Q: What influence has the Voice had on you over the years? In college? Work?
Alice: I think writing and interviewing are the biggest ones. I think it’s more relevant for me, specifically because I’m in marketing and publicity and so writing is already important. I don’t think I’ve ever struggled on an essay in college, and it just comes extremely naturally. I don’t think I would have had that ability if I wasn’t writing two, three articles every single month.
Geoffrey: Before joining, I did care a lot about national issues, but the Voice really made me care about local issues we were covering, like the city council. It’s really helped my writing. I think learning how to write for journalism is really helpful and teaches you to be concise.
Q: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced?
Geoffrey: During COVID, we lost that feel of camaraderie: normally you could just go to another desk and be like, Hey, how’s the design work going, how’s that article going? You guys can collaborate way more, which was what I really missed. We ended up using discord during COVID, which didn’t work perfectly, but we could go into “rooms” and work together.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your life today. What are some life lessons you’ve taken from your days at the Voice?
Alice: Knowing how to ask good questions is underrated, and it’s not something that I can easily teach people, because it’s just an instinct that I think I’ve been building so gradually since, I guess, sophomore year of high school.
Geetika: I also think that being in the voice you talk to so many people, that whenever you come out, whether it be, after one year, after three years, you’re guaranteed to be a better communicator, which is obviously helpful for anyone, any field.
Q: What advice do you have for potential applicants?
Geoffrey: I believe the Voice will be a great experience for anyone that applies. It is a wonderful group of the smartest, brightest people, and some of the best writers on campus. My favorite teacher from Irvington High School, Ms. Kamal, is now leading the Voice, so you’ll have a great time, great vibes, and you’ll truly find yourself in a great community.
