Benjamin Shapiro: Future Journalist Understood the Assignment
Like many teenagers from New York City, Benjamin Shapiro ventures from the crowded city to spend time in East Hampton for the summers. Unlike other youths, though, Benjamin hasn’t been spending all of his time laying by the beach. He’s been learning the ins and outs of journalism with 10 other students under the direction of Christine Sampson at the East Hampton Star Summer Academy.
Benjamin lives in New York City, where he attends the Dalton School in Brooklyn. During his school weeks, he keeps himself occupied with playing volleyball and soccer, being a Model UN and debate team member, and writing for the school newspaper — the passion that led him to The Star’s youth journalism program.
Benjamin’s participation at The Star isn’t a simple whim; he’s always been infatuated with journalism. He’s visited sites where journalists gather, written articles for his school paper, and is considering journalism as a solid career option.
When Benjamin isn’t working on his next big article, he enjoys listening to some of the podcasting greats. He loves political and legal podcasts — anything that is structured. “There’s this new genre of podcast, which is essentially ‘guy has conversation for three hours with some person claiming to be an expert,’” Shapiro says, “I don’t like those sorts of podcasts, but, I enjoy podcasts with smart and informative people.”
Aligning with his love of political and legal podcasts, Benjamin has a love of history. In terms of other traditional school subjects, Benjamin says the teacher can make or break the class. “I really think that it depends on if a teacher is able to make something interesting — if they're compelling in the ways in which they involve the class or the activities which they do.”
Whatever his future may hold, the summer he spent submerged in knowledge, rather than the salty sea, won’t be forgotten anytime soon.