Spotlight on Veralyn Williams
Developing an empowered voice as a writer and Radio Rookie.

In junior high school, I was a chameleon. I reconstructed myself daily to fit in— I even cringed at standing out for positive achievements. With my “friends” not taking school seriously, getting awards for English or having perfect attendance made me feel like the loser. Still, although I didn’t want to stray from the norm, with parents like mine, getting bad grades wasn’t an option.

In 2001, I found an outlet that encouraged me to be myself and meet other teens trying to do the same thing, the Manhattan Class Company (MCC) Youth Theater Company. The Company gives workshops in both acting and playwriting. I decided to try both.

In the acting group, I performed my own poetry. One poem called “Don’t Be Mad” was my way of asking my parents and friends to accept the person I was becoming. Although I felt empowered when I was writing the poem, I felt terrified performing it in front of an audience. I was putting myself out there, making myself vulnerable, and I had no idea if anyone was going to care what I had to say. To my surprise, the audience listened and related to my experience.

That experience gave me the confidence to perform in six other original productions with the acting group. For the first time, I formed a bond with people my age with whom I had a lot in common. In MCC’s playwriting workshop, I also started developing my voice as a writer. I wrote two plays— Finesse and Go-Go Gadget— that were selected for production. Around the same time, one of my teachers told me about a program called Girls Write Now (GWN), which partners young aspiring female writers with professional female writers. It was so inspiring to be around adults who worked as writers and were happy with their career choices. Though my parents were supportive of my love for writing, they reminded me daily they saw no future in the pursuit. However, meeting women like the GWN mentors showed me what was possible.

My mentor continually informed me of media opportunities and she led me to my next adventure— a youth media program called Radio Rookies. As I had never considered that radio might suit me, I was intrigued by the program’s description: “a WNYC, New York Public Radio initiative that provides teenagers with the tools and training to create radio stories about themselves, their communities and their world.”

Reverting to my pre-MCC days, part of me questioned what I could say on the radio that might prompt anyone to listen. Nevertheless, I participated in a short workshop where Radio Rookies taught a group of students how to produce personal stories in two days. After that experience, I was hooked on radio. And when the program came to my neighborhood in the Bronx, I applied and was accepted.

Next, I produced a radio documentary on my legal status. My family moved to the U.S. from Sierra Leone during my infancy. When I was a senior in high school, I found out I would not receive any financial aid or assistance because I lacked a green card. My story tells my journey of getting the truth from my family members, who did have green cards, and who, like most immigrants, think immigration topics should not be talked about— especially on the radio.

Reluctant to share our story, my family feared that I might get deported for talking about my immigration issues. But, at the time, I was willing to risk ANYTHING to get all the opportunities America had to offer. Fortunately, in September of 2006 my life changed. I got my green card and felt doors flying open.

“Legal Status” was part of the Radio Rookie stories that won the 65th Annual Peabody Award. Going to the award ceremony was an amazing experience. I even got to see the host Jon Stewart.

Recently, I won the Regional RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Awards in the News Documentary category for my second story “The N Word— It Represents Hatred.” In the “N-Word” story, I looked at the use of the word within the black community and concluded it is a derogatory word anyway you swing it. I decided that I’m not going to say the word.

I’ve been allotted many opportunities to use my voice as a powerful tool. Many teens don’t know they have the same power or opportunities. I’m now 21 years old. The very “friends” I desperately wanted to be like in junior high school now admire me for my accomplishments. I feel blessed for being part of different organizations that have truly impacted my life and the lives of others.

To learn more about Radio Rookies, visit www.wnyc.org/radiorookies.