Is it true that all good things must come to an end? I mean, people still buy and listen to records, Hollywood is constantly churning out sequels and reboots and this year even the Harry Potter series came back. But this article marks the end of something I hope you consider a good thing: my column, A Teen’s Perspective.
After spending over two years writing this weekly column, I’ve decided to end A Teen’s Perspective as I enter a new stage of my life. I’m about to leave for Israel (in fact, as you read this I’ll b” h have arrived!), which means a whole new schedule and journey that I’ll be experiencing. I’m certainly thrilled to be heading to yeshiva—but I know I’m going to have a very busy schedule, and that finding the time to keep this column going regularly would be a massive challenge.
Rest assured: This is not the end of my fledgling career as a writer, or even the end of my time writing for The Jewish Link! I’m hoping to write some articles about my experiences in Israel, and perhaps occasionally comment about events going on in the greater world and Jewish community, like I have during my column. In fact, The Jewish Link began listing me last week as an “ Israel Correspondent,” and I certainly want to live up to that label. That said, I don’t think it’s right for me to remain tied to my column when it seems like I’ll have far less time to write it. I’d be keeping you—the readers—waiting, I’d be constantly keeping my superiors at the Link in suspense and I’d stress myself out trying to sustain the column even while my days become filled with learning and touring and so on. (By now you likely all know that I’m usually pretty good about keeping myself busy…) I’m hoping that you’ll still hear from me in the future in these pages, even if it isn’t as a part of a regular column. And if the Link wants to give the moniker “ A Teen’s Perspective” to articles by other teens, they have my full acquiescence.
Given that this is the final installment of this column, perhaps I should share a bit of its history.
When I was 10 (almost an entire half of my lifetime ago!), I wrote a couple of cutesy articles for a now-defunct newspaper, The Jewish Planet, that functioned pretty similarly to the Link at its inception (as a newspaper serving Bergen County’s Jewish community). In 2013, the Jewish Link came upon the scene. My parents thought it would be a great idea for me to write some articles for this new venture, like I had for the Jewish Planet, but I held off until May 2014. By then, The Jewish Link had become far more established, and I considered taking a chance with them. I heard about teenagers who wrote for Huffington Post, for instance, and thought: I doubt I could get a regular perch at a place as large as HuffPo, but maybe a smaller, more focused venture like The Jewish Link would be interested in taking me on…
The first column concept I came up with was something along the lines of (melodrama alert!) “ A Teen in Two Worlds,” which would’ve focused on the challenges and excitement I faced as a Bergen County resident who went to school in Manhattan. Quite fortunately, my parents and I worked together to improve the concept, eventually coming up with the broader concept of “ A Teen’s Perspective,” which would discuss parts of my life I wanted to share with others, as well as my perspective on events in the Jewish community and the world at large.
Once I wrote the first installment of the column, “ What You Don’t See on My Facebook Page” (anyone remember that one?), I sent a long email to Moshe Kinderlehrer, publisher of The Jewish Link, pitching my idea for the column. In my somewhat rambling proposal (I was still getting used to businesslike emails!), I wrote, “ The Jewish Link reports on youth in the community with articles on schools and sports, but what if it had a column written from the perspective of a teenager such as myself? It would be something unique that could compliment [sic] the adult views given in the other columns, and… could attract more younger readers to the Link, who would be interested in reading a column written by someone their age.” (By now I know that the correct word is complement—I’m thankful my writing improved since I wrote that proposal…)
Moshe wrote back the next day thanking me for the email and the submission, telling me that it was “ pretty solid. I have sent it to my editors and they are reviewing it and we will get back to you shortly on you possibly writing a regular column for us.” I waited with bated breath to see if they’d accept my column proposal—and soon enough, Moshe wrote back to me asking me for a headshot for my new column!
Since then, I’ve written about a plethora of topics, from the personal to the earth-shattering, and not only has my writing improved, but I’ve also reached a growing audience (particularly after the Link expanded to include more of New Jersey), allowing me to share my thoughts with more and more people.
Now I must give credit where credit is due. I’d like to thank my parents (such a cliched line, but oh so true), for all of their love and support, and in particular for being wonderful beta readers. Every time I wrote a column, they helped critique both the writing itself and the article’s content, helping me make each article shine. I’d also like to thank my siblings for all of their encouragement as I wrote the column, as well as all of my extended family and friends who cheered me on. (Shout out to Uncle Mark in particular, who inspired some of my articles.)
As for the crew at The Jewish Link: I’m extremely grateful to Moshe Kinderlehrer for giving me the opportunity to write weekly for this excellent newspaper. Not many newspaper publishers would take a chance on a 16-year-old (at the time) writer! I’d also like to thank former Jewish Link editor Jeanette Friedman, for her guidance and advice when I started writing; she helped encourage me to start tackling more mature subject matter. Of course, I cannot forget the talented and warm Elizabeth Kratz. Elizabeth has always been there to support me when it came to the column, whether I had to make some changes to an article or rethink the piece’s entire concept, and she also not only gave me reporting assignments but also helped me fix my first one up when it needed rewrites. My writing would not be what it is today without her, and I’ll always be indebted to her. Much thanks to the rest of the team at The Jewish Link as well; you guys are all the best!
Lastly, I’d like to thank all of you—the readers—for all of the support, encouragement and feedback—or even just plain readership—you’ve given me. It’s always been wonderful hearing from some of you via email, and it’s always been wonderful to know that my words have been reaching a large audience. I certainly hope you have all enjoyed seeing the world through a teen’s perspective.
Oren Oppenheim, 18, is an alumnus of Ramaz Upper School in Manhattan and lives in Fair Lawn, NJ. He will be attending Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem for his gap year; he will start college at the University of Chicago in 2017. Contact him at [email protected].
