We are a handful of students from Metro Academic Studies in Atlanta with a vision to inform and inspire our school, community, and world with the individuality of our fellow students. Everyone has something they love; something that helps truly define who they are. Our mission is to bring those interests and passions to light.
Some words on our authors:
Some words on our authors:
Amaya Corbin is a high school junior who can describe herself in three words: ”I am divergent.” In her lifetime she dreams of traveling the entire world, “Good, bad and all the in between.” She is inspired by a quote that she wrote herself, “Laughing is just smiling with audio.” Her hero is her mother. “My mother is by far my hero. She has sacrificed for me from childbirth to driving me all over metro Atlanta. I look up to her and strive to become just as good a person as she is. I want to be a mother to my children, a wife to my husband, and a left-handed woman in a right-handed, man’s world." If a movie was made of her life Zoë Saldana would play her in an action drama. It would be, Amaya says, “an Oscar award winning motion picture.” If she could travel back in time and give any advice to her five-year-old self it would be to “eat those fruits and vegetables; you'll thank me later.” When she wants a good laugh she finds it on the back of Laffy Taffy rappers. “‘What did one casket say to the other casket? That you coffin?!’ Those Laffy Taffy jokes are intense.”
Ashley Catanzarite is a high school junior. Her favorite subject is science because the physical and specifically biological worlds fascinate her. “I like to know how living things work internally.” Her dream job is to be a doctor. “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor.” She says, “Now I want to be a neonatologist working with babies in critical care, and eventually start a medical practice in a third world country.” She is inspired best by the quote. “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” There are many places she wishes to travel, and each place holds exciting activities. “Go on a safari in Africa, shop in Paris, ride a gondola in Italy, scuba dive in Australia, visit the rural countryside in China, vacation on tropical islands–basically travel every place in the world I can!” If she were a flavor of ice-cream she’d be coconut milk ice cream. Being vegan, it’s the only flavor she eats. A piece of advice she would give to her five-year-old self is to “enjoy every moment of having endless time to play outside for hours.”
Courtney Blair Duncan is a high school senior who is inspired by the quote, “She took the leap, and built her wings on the way down.” As one who loves stories, literature is naturally her favorite subject. Given the opportunity to have any super power, she’d choose teleportation, like in the movie Jumper, “‘cause that would be crazy awesome to just appear wherever you want.” Her list of places to travel is endless: “Peru, South Africa, India, all of Europe, and Egypt.” Basically the entire world! If, during one of her traveling adventures, she were to be stranded on a tropical island, she would bring with her “a knife, 12 years of sunscreen, and a huge pack of pencils.” Courtney’s dream job is a battle between an adventurous fantasy and a compelling reality. “Indiana Jones-style archaeologist is my dream job.” She says, “But as of right now I’m looking into a job in the arts, like media design, or graphic design.”
Ethan Groover is a high school junior with a dream to work in audio or video production and produce his own music on the side. He describes himself in three words as “blunt, reserved, and introspective.” His favorite subject is literature because, he says, “I enjoy learning about a subject that's less linear and has more to learn about interacting with other people.” If Ethan were to be stranded on a tropical island, the first three things he would bring with him would be “a Bible, a knife, and a lighter.” Given the opportunity to go back in time and impart one piece of advice into his five-year-old self, he would advise, “Think for yourself, regardless of how much people will inevitably attempt to think for you.” An item on his bucket list is wing-suit gliding. His hero is his brother Malachi. “He is a living example of humility and integrity to me, and has taught me more about both than I could ever repay.” One place he would like to travel is New Zealand; “I want to go to New Zealand so, soooooo bad!” A quote that inspires him is one from C. S. Lewis, "A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell."
Justin Heydt is an 18-year-old high school senior. "That means I can legally smoke cigars" he says. His favorite subject is literature. “ I believe it reveals perspectives which reflect the ideas of a person, culture, and time-period, all in various styles of writing and communication.” Justin’s dream job is to be a freelance journalist and speaker. When asked about the places he wishes to travel, he says, “I want to travel to Russia and Mongolia, because I know very little about that area and it seems dangerous.” When he dances, he describes himself as looking like “CHANNING TATUM” (all caps). His response to the prospect of his life being made into a movie is this: “If a movie was made about my life, and it was anything but comedy, it would be taking me far too seriously. Steve Carell would play me.” Justin participated in this Masterminds project to learn about and get to know people and what makes them tick. “I like to interview people one-on-one.” Justin lives by the quote, attributed to Mark Twain, "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
Kristian Spence is a high school junior who participated in this project because she enjoys asking questions. "People are like sentimental gifts, only some are harder to open; regardless, each one is laced with stories and mysteries. This project allowed me to not only learn people and their stories but it created a platform to share those stories." If she were to be stranded on a tropical island she would bring a knife, flint and steel (that’s one item), and another person. "I’d go crazy if I only had the birds to talk to, and after all, two heads are better than one." If she could have any super power she would have telekinesis or be a mermaid…a telekinetic mermaid. During her lifetime she wants to travel the whole world, specifically visiting Brazil, Australia, Johannesburg, London, and Greece. She also wants to live in Italy for a few years."If a movie was made of my life it would be originally an adventure/ comedy book series made into a few movies. I would play myself and become a millionaire off of royalties from the books and the movies." Given the chance to travel back in time and give advice to my five-year-old self, she would say, “You’re not going to be able to please everyone, so don’t change yourself attempting to fit a pleasing mold because when people come along who are looking for uniqueness, your former glory will be lost.”
OPSEC
Robert Solomon, aka Brad Pitt, is a high school junior with future goals to “marry Emma Watson and be a stay-at-home husband.” If he were to be stranded on a tropical island he would bring, “a bunch of money and a teleportation device so I can get off the island, duh... then I would still have the money.” He confidently concludes, “I don't need a third item.” If he could travel back through time and give a piece of advice to his five-year-old self, it would be to invest in Apple. Who’s his hero? “Drake from Drake and Josh.” Why Drake? “Because he's awesome...why else?” If he were a teacher you’d find him in a music classroom.
Mrs. Margaret Shuman, our editor, is an English teacher who loves to make her subject practical and interesting as much as possible. She says “I really enjoy helping students get over their yucky feelings about English classes, if I can!” Her bucket list includes traveling with her husband. “I'd like to have an Italian dinner on a patio in Rome, Italy, (not GA) with my handsome husband.” Shuman is inspired by the short but powerful quote: “God answers prayer.” If she were a flavor of ice-cream it would be “a good vanilla--it's a good mixer with any other flavors.” The inspiration behind the Masterminds project is her students. “My students are so skilled and interesting in many areas, but sometimes I only get to see their schoolwork side. Now and then we need to not just practice skills, but actually put skills to work with something like Masterminds. I'm really proud of my MAS AP Language students for their commitment to the project.” One piece of advice she would give to her five-year-old self is, “God knows you better than anyone else, so build a good relationship with him for the long run. You can trust him.” If you found yourself rummaging through Mrs. Shuman’s desk drawer, the most unusual thing you would find is “a partial jawbone and teeth from some creature I found in the woods years ago. It's actually very clean” she assures, “but weird.” If she weren’t a teacher, she would be a fishing guide with an organic garden on the side. Mrs. Shuman’s favorite joke is “Wherever you go, there you are."
While the views and ideas expressed on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of Metro Academic Studies or The Church of The Apostles, we hope they will be true to each individual comprising the beauty of our diverse student body.