Valley Stream North High School sophomore Olivia Howard was named a runner-up in Optimum’s 18th annual Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest. Olivia’s work was selected from entries from across the country for her essay, “Chosen by the Music.”
The national contest invites students to submit essays of 500 words or fewer describing a person, cultural experience, celebration, or tradition that helped them connect to Hispanic culture and explain the significance of that connection.
Howard’s winning essay detailed her early encounters with salsa music while growing up in Brooklyn. Coming from a family with roots in Jamaica and Trinidad, Howard was surrounded by reggae and soca. Living in a diverse neighborhood exposed her to a wider variety of music, and it was salsa that uniquely captured her interest and, through repeated exposure, fostered a deep appreciation for the art form.
Olivia’s school counselor is Danielle Liebman.
Olivia Howard.