In school, two of my favorite subjects are art and history. That’s why I was so excited when I had the chance to visit Sotheby’s.

What would happen if the earth got too close to the sun? How could any living creature survive the Big Bang? Is there a way to keep your plants watered if you go on a month-long vacation?

This past weekend, 36 Success Academy scholars from seven different schools traveled to Nashville to compete in the National K-12 Grade Chess Championships — and they put in a stellar performance.

If you passed by Yankee Stadium last month, you might have witnessed two boys running full tilt around the stadium’s perimeter, resistance weights on their legs, leaves crunching beneath their sneakers.

This election year, our middle school scholars are taking a hands-on approach to civics education.

Last month, nine scholars at Success Academy Harlem East traveled to Washington D.C., where they met with members of Congress, toured the U.S. Capitol Building, and put on a debate showcase.

Ever since I was five years old, I have loved the idea of working in the medical field — it’s been my dream.

When I arrived at Summer Arts Institute in July, I was nervous and excited. But again the nerves went away — from the minute I stepped through the door, we sang non-stop every day.

This summer, I had a life-changing experience at the Future Latino Leaders Law Camp at American University in Washington, D.C.

Sean Little recently delivered these remarks during the fourth-grade graduation at SA Bed-Stuy 1.

Thank you, Class of 2028, for helping me learn these lessons. I am proud and honored to be one of you, and I know that we will make our mark on the world.

They know that what matters most is not the score they get, but the effort they show and the real sense of accomplishment that comes with knowing they did their best!

Success Academy scholars are a diverse, talented, passionate group of New Yorkers, with strong ideas, engaging personalities, and fascinating stories to tell.

Recently, I was proud of my daughter for making the most of a special opportunity to give back to her community and help a group of younger scholars.

More than 50 years after his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., continues to inspire the work we do at Success Academy. His message of equality, justice, and opportunity for all is as fresh and powerful as it was a half-century ago.

The book discusses class and education, violence in relationships, race, and feminism — all issues that I wanted to learn more about. I was eager to learn how to talk back about these issues when all my life I’ve heard that talking back is disrespectful.

Suddenly, the environmental issues that we were studying and discussing in class became more real and pressing — and that made learning more fun and exciting.

This past summer, on assignment to snap some photos of basketball camp, I came across a young scholar named Winter Smith, who reminded me a lot of my younger self on the court.

Earlier this month 11-year-old Shadman Khan got a chess chance of a lifetime: to compete against one of the world’s top-ranked chess players.

In October, my classmates and I earned free tickets from our school to see the Broadway musical Hamilton, which tells the story of Alexander Hamilton and the other founders of American democracy.

Success Academy tenth-grader Sekou Cisse loves a good argument. A seasoned member of the SA High School of the Liberal Arts debate team, Sekou joined debate as a seventh grader at Success Academy Harlem West.

It was a casual encounter in Harlem that brought the two of them together.

In the months leading up to the U.S. Chess Federation National Elementary Championship in May, 13 of my chess students at Success Academy Harlem North West kicked their training into high gear.

In middle school, the state tests were Kayla’s Mt. Everest — seemingly unscalable twin peaks of math and English. Even thinking about the tests made her anxious; for two years straight, she had not passed either state test. Eighth grade — the last year of mandated state testing — was her final opportunity to shine.