Miami Montage Workshop— MEMORIES. MOMENTS. MONTAGE.
“I can’t make any more excuses for myself. I want to get this done. My story has to be heard.”…
This is what Miami Montage is: integrity and passion. Something that was once used as a mere hobby or as a way to simply speak one’s mind has become a life for these students. The desire to share, to create, and to hone into a delicate craft that can be consumed by all is that driving force.
Hours spent editing, adjusting, and piecing together stories taught me that every detail matters.
For centuries (since forever, really), young people have always been expected to be naive, unserious, and, most importantly, unreliable, making it an almost impossible feat to be taken seriously, especially in a field where you’re expected to be exceptional in every way.
That’s how our narrative has shifted. The life that was once free-spirited and aimless has transformed into a purposeful mission: to share stories and experiences, not just their own, but those of everyone around them.
For Miami Montage students, this isn’t just an extracurricular; it’s a platform for representation and growth.
On a trip to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, students got straight to work with interviews and videos, working alongside each other to build a stronger foundation for their documentaries on the topic.
As writing advisor and dorm counselor, Jordyn Minnis put it, “At its core, that’s what Miami Montage is, a brief moment in time for students’ paths as young journalists to cross before they embark on their own journeys to shape the world.”
In a 2024 Forbes article about the upcoming election, it was reported that approximately 81% of young people aged 14 to 22 believe that those in power do not truly care about their opinions. This staggering percentage underscores why spaces like Miami Montage matter.
In a world where I am constantly searching for something, being able to work on a project consistently without fail once seemed impossible. But Miami Montage became another world. My own private sanctuary, where the opportunities felt endless. My days became longer, happier, fulfilled. It was a life I’d run back to every time.
Working on my first ever published magazine article with the help of writing coaches truly opened my eyes to the world of possibility and the true joy that journalism brings within myself.
And it wasn’t just me. The room was always alive with a kind of quiet. electricity, a mix of clacking keyboards, scribbled notes, and the occasional burst of laughter. Each of us carried our own story, but we built them side by side, learning how our voices could coexist without being drowned out. In the process, we weren’t just building articles or documentaries. We were building each other.
“I really appreciate the fact that we’re able to bond, because these are the future journalists of tomorrow. So I feel like networking and getting to know such amazing people is a great opportunity,” said Isabella Brana.
Dealing with friendships that grow and fade as a teenager makes it crucial to build a strong foundation for yourself. To learn who you are, what you want out of life, and who you want to take there with you. In this program, those lessons happen naturally. Through long work sessions, last-minute edits, and shared deadlines, you learn not just to create, but to connect.
