Isabella Gollomp ’15 is a people’s person.  Bella loves people. And people have a habit of loving her back. So it is no surprise that interviews are her favorite part to journalism. “I love getting to sit down with all these interesting people, and being able to hear their story and share that with the world” Gollomp said, calling conducting an interview both a major responsibility and also a great gift. Bella joined Inklings her sophomore year, but said with a laugh, “I didn’t get good until last year.” She’s not so proud of some of her older stuff, but takes it in stride. She knows the bad articles led to the good ones. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? She’s really proud of her article on Andrew Accardi’s passing last year. She says it was so hard to write about such a sad subject, but that she was really invested in getting the story covered right, and in a respectful way. Bella was invited to the Accardi house and sat down with Andrew’s father, Frank. She felt so welcome, even though she was hesitant to take the story at first. It was such an emotional topic, Gollomp says, but she wanted to test herself, and push her limits. “The most important thing in journalism” Gollomp said, “is just taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone to get the best possible story.” Gollomp still talks to Frank Accardi. She gets updates about Andrew’s Army, the charity founded in Accardi’s passing. Bella’s empathy and tact has led her to write harder stories, with more sensitive topics. Her personality lets her make friends on the way.  

For Liana Sonenclar ’14, a photograph isn’t just a distant picture taken carelessly with the fumbling push of a button. It’s not busywork; it’s not an afterthought. A photograph, to Sonenclar, is an experience, a careful experience, that captures not only an image, but also an emotion. “This year, I’m encouraging photographers to get close to their subjects,” Sonenclar said. “Be a part of the event.” Sonenclar, after taking photos for nearly every print edition of Inklings last year, is starting this year as the Photo Editor for the staff, a position that comes with its fair share of responsibility. In addition to taking as many photos as she did last year, Sonenclar is now in charge of making sure all the other photographers know what to capture. To make this easier, Sonenclar is starting a photographic recruitment process of sorts, hand-selecting artists and photographers that she knows are reliable and asking them to join her crew. “New people provide new talent, new variety,” Sonenclar said. “I want to change things up, to make every issue interesting.” And Sonenclar certainly has some experience in getting interesting photographs. While taking photos last year for Inklings, she also served as a Staff Photographer for the Westport Daily Voice as well as now starting this year as the official photographer for the Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk. However, photography is just one of Sonenclar’s undertakings. She also plays piano for Wreckers In Tune, is actively working on a science research project, is one of the Executive Editors and Producers of QED and a member of the French Honor Society, all while balancing nine Advanced Placement courses over her high school tenure.