By The Delphian Staff
Remember those essays you had to write the first day of school back in your elementary days? We thought it would be fun to show you how each of our editors for The Delphian spent their summer.
Joseph D'Andrea - Editor-in-Chief
This past summer was probably the most eventful break between school years that I’ve had. I started my internship with Richner Communications, the weekly newspaper publisher located in Garden City, just a few weeks after the spring semester ended. I wrote for the “Long Beach Herald,” reporting on local events and profiling notable Long Beach natives.
My favorite story I was assigned was covering a surfing event that gave individuals with limb loss and differences the chance to ride the waves. There I spoke to a lot of really inspiring kids and adults. I also continued working as an educator at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, not too far from Adelphi (or my house), a job I began through an internship with the university. On behalf of the museum, I once again got to attend the annual Jones Beach Air Show on Memorial Day, which is always a lot of fun.
Aside from work, my time was spent with friends and family: taking a few trips, visiting a bunch of museums, attending some concerts and finally getting a chance to see “Hamilton” on Broadway.
In July, my family and I took a trip to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, also taking a ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard, where we walked around the towns, relaxed on the beach, visited the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum near the family’s compound and even stopped by the main beach where “Jaws” was filmed 50 years ago. The month after, we visited Niagara Falls, stopping by the Franklin D. Roosevelt Museum and Library on the way up and crossing over the northern border where we attended a Toronto Blue Jays game.
Concerts I felt lucky to go to include a joint Bob Dylan-Robert Plant concert (as a part of the Outlaw Music Festival) at Jones Beach’s amphitheater and a show with Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison and guitarist Adrian Belew in Huntington, where it was impossible not to move to the groove. I also visited the Nassau County Museum of Art (a very photogenic place, by the way!) and the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, where I drooled over famous movie props.
The rest of my summer was spent watching movies, reading books, scrounging antique shops with friends for dusty, decades-old political campaign memorabilia, and excitedly preparing to take on my new role as editor-in-chief of The Delphian!
Hussein Ali Rifath - News Editor
While in the midst of cranking out my last papers and studying for finals, I became obsessed with the thought of summer being the light at the end of a rather dark and narrow tunnel. I get this feeling often, with each school year bringing with it a continuous stream of assignments, deadlines and responsibilities. But the summers that'd follow would sometimes prove to be a dull mirage. I'm proud to report that this summer was wonderful.
I spent my summer interning at a boutique law firm representing clients in all kinds of civil litigation matters, primarily contract and property disputes. We have a large client base in Queens, so when I'm not drafting motions and other paperwork, you'll find me in Sutphin Boulevard's courthouses en route to check in on our next appearance. Our practice is incredibly fast-paced. Although this work brings with it a healthy amount of stress, I wouldn't trade it for anything else.
I have a strong passion for art and electronics. On my birthday, July 29, 1 bought myself a CRT (cathode ray tube) projector from an art studio in Brooklyn for a great price. It's in excellent condition but had a cut cord (which I was able to fix within a matter of minutes). I was inspired to do this after watching a movie at Film Forum, an independent movie theater in Greenwich Village. These machines aren't your average lecture hall projector: they have far superior contrast, and when calibrated properly, unparalleled fidelity. The only reason they're being phased out is because of their huge size and the time they take to set up. I'm working on calibrating my projector in my free time and can't wait to see it running.
I'm excited to work with the rest of the Delphian team to report on current events as election season comes into full swing.
Arpan Josan - Assistant News Editor
The summer started with a visit from one of my best friends who lives in South Carolina. During her time here, we drove around Long Island trying to make as many memories as possible. And of course, that led to us going to Kings Park, which if you didn’t know, houses the abandoned psychiatric hospital. We wanted to visit it ever since middle school and I guess we thought that was the day. We weren’t trying to be like Sam and Colby by exploring creepy sites; we just walked around the park as she failed to scare me numerous times and ended up staying there for an hour and a half in the burning heat. So, yeah, no ghost stories.
After she left, I then had to pack for my very quick trip up north to Canada for my cousin’s engagement. While in preparation, there was clearly something wrong as my cousin ran around trying to find the pants he was supposed to wear at his engagement ceremony. After a frantic 10 minutes, he was about to call the shop until my aunt found it in the same bag as the rest of his clothes. Besides the engagement preparation, I went to Toronto with my sister and cousin where we ate tons of food and shopped. We went to a huge mall that would put the Roosevelt Field Mall to shame, as it had three floors that you could just get lost in. And, of course, my eyes caught a bookstore where I spent most of my money.
I would say the earlier part of my summer was filled with more excitement since the latter half consisted of me going to work as an admission ambassador for Adelphi and binge-watching shows. The slow pace of summer was a nice change from the rapid motion of a college semester.
Skylar Dorr - Features Editor
Though I enjoyed this past summer immensely, I can say it’s been pretty hectic and has easily been the busiest summer I’ve ever had. To start, I picked up a small job as an administrative assistant for the Communications Department here at Adelphi and also aided in handling small deals with clients at my grandfather's construction company, mostly just to give me something to do.
One of the highlights of my summer was my family trip to Aruba. Both of my grandparents, as well as my little sister and her boyfriend, were in attendance, and it was easily the most fun vacation I’ve ever had. We did various excursions, mostly water rides, which honestly I loathed. But the real part that made that trip special was the bonding I got to experience with my family in such a beautiful place. My family is very dear to me, so anything I get to do with them is automatically going to be fun for me just because they’re with me.
I also attended the Press Club of Long Island (PCLI) Awards Dinner with my fellow Delphian staff members, which was the first awards dinner I’ve ever been to, and had a wonderful time. It was honestly amazing to be able to celebrate all of these people who share the same passions as I do—almost surreal, even.
Those are just some of the notable highlights from my very busy, very hectic summer. As much as I don’t want to admit it, I actually am looking forward to going back to Adelphi, both to see all of my friends and to be able to make myself busy with my various classes and other responsibilities. It’ll be my last year at Adelphi, so I am looking forward to making it as memorable as I possibly can!
Taye Johnson - Opinions Editor
This summer, I found myself seeking tranquility and peace amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Instead of filling my schedule with endless activities and to-do lists, I made a conscious effort to slow down and enjoy the simple moments that brought me joy.
One of the ways I found peace this summer was by immersing myself in nature. I spent countless hours hiking through lush green forests, breathing in the fresh mountain air, and listening to the symphony of birds chirping overhead. Each step I took in the great outdoors felt like a meditation, grounding me in the present moment and filling my soul with serenity.
I also dedicated time to mindfulness practices such as yoga and meditation. Every morning, I would roll out my mat and flow through a series of poses, allowing my body to move with grace and ease. The practice of connecting breath with movement brought a sense of calm and centeredness that stayed with me throughout the day. In the evenings, I would sit in quiet contemplation, letting go of worries and anxieties and simply being with my thoughts.
One of the highlights of my peaceful summer was spending quality time with loved ones. Whether it was sharing a meal under the stars, embarking on a spontaneous road trip, or simply enjoying each other's company in comfortable silence, these moments of connection filled my heart with warmth and gratitude. Building deeper relationships and creating lasting memories brought a sense of fulfillment that money can't buy.
As the summer days grew shorter, I looked back on the summer with a sense of contentment and gratitude. By intentionally seeking peace in the simple moments of everyday life, I was able to cultivate a summer rich in serenity, joy and connection. As I carry this sense of peace with me into the fall season ahead, I am reminded that true happiness can be found in the quiet moments when we slow down, breathe, and fully embrace the beauty of the present moment.
Gabrielle Jaipersaud - Production Editor
My summer has been a busy one, packed with many celebrations, hanging out with friends and vacationing in Jamaica. It has been one of my most enjoyable summers yet!
The fun kicked off with the celebration of my brother’s graduation from Adelphi. It was an emotional and special day for my family. Seeing my older brother walk across the stage was inspiring and a powerful reminder of the dedication it takes to reach such a milestone. Later that week, we celebrated another great milestone: my dog Shiloh’s first birthday! I had asked my parents for a dog every year, but the timing was never quite right. A year ago, when I first saw him in the shelter, I immediately fell in love. Though the puppy phase was no easy feat, I was sad to see it end. But I am excited to watch him grow. To celebrate the occasion, I baked him a dog-friendly cake, which he thoroughly enjoyed and I assisted him in blowing out his candles.
June was my busiest month of the year so far. When my plans to go to Florida for some time fell through, my best friend from Orlando came to visit and we made the most of our time together. We hit Rockaway Beach for some tanning and volleyball and had a sunset picnic in Central Park. Most of our time was spent baking, watching movies or playing the newly released expansion of the video game “Elden Ring.” One of my favorite moments was taking a painting class together in which we had so much fun, despite the challenges. She spent the entire month living as a New Yorker and I was sad to see her go. After she returned to Florida, I spent time hanging out with my best friend Britney, and was able to reconnect with some old friends.
Last but certainly not least, I returned from a vacation in the beautiful country of Jamaica, which was one of the best countries I’ve been to. The welcoming people and community, beautiful scenery and relaxing beaches made this trip incredible. One highlight was snorkeling among the beautiful marine life. We also went to the breathtaking Dunn’s Falls in Ochos Rios, climbing the waterfall from the bottom up, which was an exhilarating adventure. Afterward, we had lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the beach and then ventured deep into the mountains to visit the town of Nine Mile. We visited the famous musician Bob Marley’s birth and resting place. As a lifelong fan of reggae music, this was an incredibly powerful and touching moment in my life. The following day, we returned to Queens, NY, diving back into the hustle and bustle of city life.
As I enter my second year at Adelphi as a graphic design major and a newly declared video game design minor, I am excited for the classes I plan to take. I look forward to being The Delphian’s production editor, meeting people and having new adventures!
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