On Thursday Nov. 7, Helios hosted award-winning journalist, author, and Heschel parent Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Among her most notable accomplishments is her acclaimed work for GQ and The New York Times. Her debut novel, Fleishman Is in Trouble (2019), received critical acclaim and was adapted into a Hulu miniseries in 2022. Her second novel, Long Island Compromise, was released in 2024.
Brodesser-Akner shared writing tips, guiding us to look at what’s happening in our school and greater community and advising how to ask the right questions so we, as student journalists, can uncover the hidden truths that are around us. A journalist, she advised, is just a person with “a question and a pen.” She used her expertise to prove to the crowd of aspiring writers that journalism is accessible. Brodesser-Akner remarked, “It doesn’t matter if you are writing an article about fortune telling or a report on inflation, there is something for everyone in a magazine.”
As an Editor-in-Chief, I’m struck by the profound simplicity of Brodesser-Akner’s message: that every perspective matters and every question deserves exploration. Whether you’re a freshman making a case for why the lounge is the best spot in school, a sophomore passionate about a new school policy, a junior balancing unprecedented pressures, or a senior reflecting on Senior Sunrise or your last Shabbaton, our voices belong in these pages. Brodesser-Akner reminded us that a student does not need to be a seasoned writer or commit to weekly articles. Sometimes, the most powerful stories come from those who step forward armed with nothing but curiosity and conviction.
I invite you, the unexpected observers, the ones who’ve been watching and waiting for your moment to speak, to join us during Thursday clubs. The pen is yours. The platform is ready. What story will you tell?