Najaya Royal Lives Her Dreams

On March 16-17th, Adobe Youth Voices held six workshop sessions on creating music videos and portrait documentaries as part of WNET's Celebration of Teaching & Learning conference.  The highlight of the conference was a panel discussion on creating a difference in the lives of young people through education, led by NYTimes best-selling author Wes Moore .  And who was one of the participants ?  15 year-old Najaya Royal, who has written poetry for AOP's I Hear America Singing-commissioned song cycles Songs from the F Train and Brooklyn Cinderella. Najaya suggested creating an outlet for students to express themselves, perhaps through having schoolteachers becoming directly aware of their students' interests, and then incorporating those interests into subjects they're struggling with.  "Don't be afraid to help yourself," she said, later adding,"We all have a dream.  But it's your choice to go after that dream."

Najaya's dream is to combine her writing and musical talents (she also plays the violin and saxophone) into the career of a music journalist.  So far, we think she's done an excellent job.

Want to learn more about Najaya's influences in following her dreams?  Click here.