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Source: Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.儲存Sept. 04--You're probably familiar with the concept of "desert island picks."What book, what music, what movie would you choose if you were going to be stuck on a desert island?One Saturday morning in July, I brewed a pot of coffee and started in on 44 remarkable applications from area high school students to be a 2013-14 Post-Bulletin teen columnist.I've never hired a columnist before -- let alone 10 of them. I started reading their cover letters and writing samples, and when I found one I especially liked -- there were so many good ones -- I put it in the "YES" pile. By the time I was through, I had my 10. My desert island columnists.There was Madison Conte, who expressed a love for postmodern literature and literary journalism (I like those, too) and wrote a beautiful narrative from a child's perspective in World War II.Marcus Aarsvold, too, submitted fiction (and an essay and a poem) in which he showed a really nice ear for dialog. I think it's a patient and thoughtful writer who can write good dialog. I can't wait to read his columns.Others, too: Zach Benson wrote about his attempts to grow a beard ("After a few days, the facial hairs across my face resembled a map of Australia, quite populated around the edges, but with sparse settlements in between.") and Grace Glover described herself as a "stress addict" and "experience collector" whose "brain is still squishy and funny."Alex Long wrote about his experience writing a 50,001-word novel. Mishy Wang wrote about volunteering at Quarry Hill summer camp. Lauren Saner wrote what might have been my favorite sentence in all of the ardor-filled applications."Honestly," she wrote, "I'm not quite sure why I believe I'm qualified to write for the Post-Bulletin." (Humility rocks!) She went on: "I have many thoughts and ideas and opinions about things going on in my life and the world around me. ... I tend to just write them down and kind of be done with the thought for a little while."As you'll see, I have all kinds of kids writing for me this year. (Luke Buehler, Virginia Nowakowski and Laurie Rackham round out the 10.) If there's one thing their applications had in common, though, it was this: When I finished reading what they'd written, I was dying to read more.Now I get to, and I hope you'll enjoy them, too. They'll write on a five-week schedule, two per week, every Wednesday. As always, share your reactions to their columns by sending me notes, to life@postbulletin.com. I'll pass your messages along.And if you're a southeastern Minnesota student, you can submit your work to me to consider for publication any time. I won't put you on a regular schedule like I have my "Desert Island 10," but your columns, stories and poems can find a place in our Wednesday youth section.--Zach Benson (starts Sept. 11)School/year: Century, senior.Favorite subject: Social studies.Extracurriculars: Football, track, teen council.Other interests:Person I'd like to meet: Any member of the Special Forces community. I am in awe of them and respect them so much.Last book I read: "John Adams," by David McCullough.On my iPod: "Can't Hold Us," Macklemore.How I get around: CarWhy I wanted to be a P-B columnist: To provide thought-provoking ideas to all age groups, and for the experience.Lauren Saner (starts Sept. 11)School/year: Century, junior.Favorite subject: Band. English is a close second.Extracurriculars: School musical, Key Club, band, Link Crew, piano lessons, part-time job at Renning's Flowers, and Honors Choirs.Other interests: I love to perform, whether it's singing, dancing, playing an instrument acting, or a combination of those. I also love working with kids.Person I'd like to meet: Demi Lovato. I think she has become a good role model by overcoming a difficult experience.Last book I read: "Jane Eyre," by Charlotte Bronte.On my iPod: "Hey, Soul Sister," by Train.How I get around: Car.Why I wanted to be a P-B columnist: I thought it would be a new, fun experience. It was a way to get out of my comfort zone a little and share my thoughts with people. I love to write and to give my ideas and opinions.Mishy Wang (starts Sept. 18)School/year: Century, junior.Favorite subject: History.Extracurriculars: Cross country, track, Century Panther Band, Bella Voce Young Women's Choir, student government.Other interests: Playing violin, knitting, spontaneous singing in public.Person I'd like to meet: A.A. Milne. I adore the simple yet profound messages of Winnie the Pooh and would love to meet the person behind them.Last book I read: "The Hound of the Baskervilles," by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.On my iPod: Alt rock, movie soundtracks and Disney.How I get around: Car or bike, depending on energy level.Why I wanted to be a P-B columnist: I love to write and express my views. If I can impact one person with my words, I would be content.Virginia Nowakowski (starts Sept. 18)School/year: Lourdes, senior.Favorite subject: Changes by the day; today it's literature.Extracurriculars: Soccer, band, liturgical choir, speech, drama, library aide, National Honor Society.Other interests: Baking, reading, Netflix (if I have time!), writing.Person I新蒲崗迷你倉d like to meet: Tina Fey. I'd love to see her thought process as she writes.Last book I read: "Thursday's Child," by Sonya Hartnett.On my iPod: Fitz and the Tantrums.How I get around: Walking as much as possible; car for everything else.Why I wanted to be a P-B columnist: It sounded challenging and enjoyable!Grace Glover (starts Sept. 25)School/year: Mayo, senior.Favorite subject: Social studies.Extracurriculars: Teen Council, art, theater, and a job at People's Food Co-op.Other interests: Music, comedy and social justice.Person I'd like to meet: Tina Fey. She just gets me -- humor, food and feminism.Last book I read: "Turn Around Bright Eyes," by Rob Sheffield.On my iPod: "Coming Up Easy," by Paolo Nutini.How I get around: By foot -- keeping it green! Plus it's a great way to be present in the moment and interact with your environment.Why I wanted to be a P-B columnist: Writing is my favorite way to channel the contents of my overactive mind into something more manageable. Being able to share my words with others is something I've always been nervous to do, but I'm excited and honored at the opportunity to try!Alex Long (starts Sept. 25)School/year: Byron, seniorFavorite subject: Literature. My favorite class, however, is concert choir.Extracurriculars: Student government, two choir groups, National Honor Society, theater. I'm also on the speech and robotics teams.Other interests: Bike, lift, play guitar, make electronic music, and read as much as I can.Person I'd like to meet: Jad Abumrad of the NPR program "Radiolab." I've been a public radio junkie for years, but "Radiolab" was the first show that made me seriously consider journalism as both a career and an art form.Last book I read: "Cannery Row," by John Steinbeck. I'm currently working on "Musicophilia," by Oliver Sacks.On my iPod: "Small Memory," by Jon Hopkins.How I get around: When I don't care about how I'll look when I get there, I will bike. In the recent heat, I mostly used my car.Why I wanted to be a P-B columnist: The opportunity to improve my skills as a writer appeals to me, as does the chance to speak to a large audience through a publication I've read and admired for years.Laurie Rackham (starts Oct. 2)School/year: John Marshall, seniorFavorite subject: Band (symphonic winds)Extracurriculars: Cross country, pit orchestra, marching band.Other interests: Creative writing, playing games and learning how to make things. Also learning and playing all of my lovely instruments.Person I'd like to meet: Jonathan Stroud author of the "Bartimaeus" trilogy. He's one of my favorite authors and I love his writing style!Last book I read: "The Hobbit," by J.R.R. Tolkien.On my iPod: Lindsey Stirling and the Piano Guys.How I get around: My lovely little car, "The Tumbler."Why I wanted to be a P-B columnist: To strengthen and test my writing ability, as well as to gain experience in the field.Marcus Aarsvold (starts Oct. 2)School/year: Pine Island, senior.Favorite subject: English, lunch.Extracurriculars: Student council, cross country, track and field.Other interests: Movies and books. I love my friends and meeting new people.Person I'd like to meet: Emma Watson, so we can start planning our wedding.Last book I read: "The Spectacular Now," by Tim Tharp.On my iPod: Skillet, Fall Out Boy, and all the songs from "Pitch Perfect" (except for "Cups")How I get around: 2006 Ford EscapeWhy I wanted to be a P-B columnist: I am thinking about going into journalism as a career, so I thought doing this would be a cool way to learn about the writing field.Luke Buehler (starts Oct. 9)School/year: Kasson-Mantorville, junior.Favorite subject: History.Extracurriculars: Speech, baseball, geocaching club.Other interests: Geocaching, cooking, movies.Person I'd like to meet: My other sibling, because I want to know who they are.Last book I read: "To Kill a Mockingbird," by Harper Lee.On my iPod: My country playlist.How I get around: Car, foot, bike -- depends on the weather.Why I wanted to be a P-B columnist: I've wanted to write for the Post-Bulletin for some time. I know someone who used to write for it, and I just thought it looked like fun!Madison Conte (starts Oct. 9)School/year: Mayo, junior.Favorite subject: English.Extracurriculars: Golf, climbing club, Student Leaders Creating Change, Spartan 300 Leadership Group.Other interests: Reading, hiking, traveling, and watching '80s movies.Person I'd like to meet: Taylor Swift! I have a lot of respect for her. Despite being famous at such a young age, she has continued to send positive messages to the young girls that look up to her. Her talent is so multifaceted; I would love to have a conversation with her.Last book I read: "The Fault in Our Stars," by John Green.On my iPod: "Miss You," by Ed Sheeran.How I get around: My mom's 13-year-old van, which my brother and I affectionately call Marge.Why I wanted to be a P-B columnist: Writing is my passion. Putting words on paper is a very fulfilling way for me to communicate my thoughts, feelings and discoveries with others.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Post-Bulletin Visit the Post-Bulletin at .postbulletin.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesmini storage