By SADIE PRICE-ELLIOTT, age 13
Adedayo covering the TEDYouth conference in Brooklyn in November 2014. PHOTO: Scott Luxor
Adedayo Perkovich, age 11, has been writing for IndyKids since 2013.
Sadie Price-Elliott: How did you find out about IndyKids? What encouraged you to begin writing for the newspaper?
Adedayo Perkovich: My mom told me about it, and since I really like to write, I was intrigued. I also wanted to learn more about social justice, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity. I also was really excited about having a mentor so that I could develop as a young writer.
SP-E: What is your favorite part about writing for IndyKids?
AP: I like the brainstorming part of developing a story. You can also learn about people’s personalities by listening to their story ideas, because you can tell what they are interested in.
SP-E: You’re an experienced IndyKids reporter. Do you have an article that you enjoyed writing most?
AP: I enjoyed writing my article about the middle school application process, because I was about to apply to middle school while writing and researching for the article. I had people surrounding me who had many different views on the subject: my friends, my friends’ parents, etc.
I also enjoyed writing about a New York Aquarium Educator Melissa Carp, because I have gone to summer camp at the aquarium for five years, and Melissa has been there for all of that time, so we are really close. It was interesting to learn about the aspects of her job that I didn’t know about, and helped me continue to spark my interest in marine science.
SP-E: Besides writing, what are some of your passions?
AP: If this counts, I love to eat chocolate, but I also love to sing in the Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC), and I love to dance. I used to dance at CUMBE Center for African and Diaspora Dance, but unfortunately, the studio has to move to another location.
SP-E: Has writing for IndyKids changed the way you see the world? If so, in what way?
AP: After working with IndyKids, I always have my eye out for a story. Before, when my mother used to put on the news I ignored it, but now, every little thing is a future article.
SP-E: What is your favorite quote and why?
AP: My favorite quote is “There is such a thing as a tesseract,” from A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L’Engle, because it reminds me that there are people out there who believe that anything is possible, and that I can be one of them too.
SP-E: What advice can you give to kids that like to write, or would like to follow their own passions?
AP: I don’t mean to be corny, but believe in yourself, and don’t do anything that’s not true to who you are to make yourself known. If you really want to do something, then your talent and passion will make it clear that you are a force to be reckoned with.
