“I really love to write; it's a hobby that keeps me happy all the time,” says Aanya Kabra, a 7th-grader at White Station Middle School. Kabra is one of 45 Kid Reporters (aged 10-14) selected this year for the Scholastic News Kids (SNK) Press Corps.
The SNK Press Corps, established in 2000, is dedicated to publishing “news for kids, by kids.” Each year the selected Kid Reporters are encouraged to report on topics and events that interest them at the local, national, or international level. These stories are then published on the SNK Press Corps website and featured in select issues of Scholastic Classroom Magazines, reaching more than 25 million students and teachers nationwide. This year’s program consists of students originating from 10 different countries including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, India, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, and Thailand.
The SNK Reporter program came to the attention of Kabra and her family through a teacher recommendation. Knowing that she wanted to find “exciting news that kids [her] age would like to read,” Kabra was immediately interested in applying for a reporter position. The application process included submitting three story ideas, writing an article about a current event in your hometown, and writing a letter of interest for the job.
As a Kid Reporter, Kabra wants to focus her articles on all that Memphis has to offer for people her age. Over the course of her time with the SNK Press Corps, she wants to encourage people to become more involved with the city. “It would be really nice if I could let them in on all of the knowledge and events that are happening here,” she says. Kabra is not only looking forward to educating people on what she loves about Memphis, but also the opportunities she will have to meet with “more people through interviews.”
As a member of the Kid Reporter program, Kabra can connect with individuals who have different experiences and cultures within Memphis and beyond. Kabra has yet to meet any of her fellow reporters. “They are all kind of scattered,” she says, “but if I had the opportunity, I would love to meet some of them.”
Kabra’s interest in writing stems from her passion for reading, and like most members of her generation, she found that love in the pages of the Harry Potter series. She first encountered the series in 4th grade, and ever since then, she thought, “Ok, I want to be a writer.”
The impact of the books around the world showed her the power of reading and writing. “This one series can cause a whole revolution,” she says. Since its final book release in 2007, the Harry Potter series has continued to grow in readership and has led to the creation of numerous charity/activist organizations based on the messages of the books. Kabra asks, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could just read and write and create a whole different world?”
In school, Kabra’s favorite subjects are math and science. While she is passionate about journalism, she does not see it as something she wants to pursue as a career. So, what does she want to be when she grows up? “I want to keep journalism as a frequent hobby,” she says, “but, at the same time, I want to be a cardiologist.” As for cardiology, her interest in the field comes from growing up in and around her father’s office. “My dad is a cardiologist, and I always thought it was really fascinating,” she says. “I want to become like him.”
Her other interests include playing the piano and participating in the Girl Scouts. Look for Kabra’s work on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website at kpcnotebook.scholastic.com.