Students React to Anna Quindlen's Visit

Adelia Rivera   

    Yesterday we had an amazing visitor, whom we also had the opportunity to interview. Still guessing who? Anna Quindlen. Although I never had heard about her work until the day Mary Ann told us she would be visiting us here, I was still excited. We had spent so much time talking about her and researching her life. At home, Anna quickly became another member of the family, since I spoke so much about her.

    I never could have imagined conducting an interview period. But I welcomed this new experience. I saw it as a whole new adventure. Everyone was so nervous and did not know what to expect – Mary Ann, being the most nervous one by far. We had always seen her so calm, cool and prepared for anything. This was a whole other side of her. This was very interesting.

    Anna was so natural and this down to earth. It seemed like we were talking to just another one of the girlfriends. I share so many of her life experiences: her mother’s passing at a very young age, having cancer hit her family and juggling motherhood with just about anything else. We learned that she loves to cook and does it very well. I wondered to myself, "Well how the heck does she find the time to cook with her busy schedule?" I know I certainly struggle with it. It should really serve as a reminder and an inspiration that anyone can do anything that they want to do. We all just have to have the desire and put our minds to it.

    We talked about all of Anna's accomplishments, which are many, including her years of writing columns. She's written many novels, three of which have been turned into movies. Anna has even written a piece on the York Street Project called "Public & Private: A Kind Place," featured in The New York Times. She's written 2 children's books, which soon will be a part of my son's book collection. It truly was an honor having her take the time from her schedule to talk to us and letting us into the life of Anna Quindlen. I plan to read most of her books if not all of them. The girls and I joked on trading the books once we've read them. Anna very quickly became an inspiration for me, for us.