Somaiya Ahmed, 2021 Summer Youth Employment Program Intern Introduction

Hello.  My name is Somaiya. I am from Brooklyn, New York. I recently graduated from high school (Brooklyn College Academy), after a year of remote learning and a worldwide pandemic. Quite the usual. Jokes aside, I am proud of myself and my class year for being resilient through it all. I am especially grateful to say that this fall I will be attending Tufts University, through the QuestBridge National Match Scholarship. I am planning to study studio art with a concentration in film and media. I am excited to see what my future holds!


Before my college plans unfold, it is essential that I begin saving up! Thankfully with the help of New York’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), I have earned the opportunity to intern at Premier Chess, a chess teaching business led by National Master Evan Rabin. My work entails promoting the art of chess through my expertise in visual arts. Now you may be wondering why chess? Well, after watching Queen’s Gambit, “Netflix’s most-watched scripted limited series to date,”  I adopted a new perspective for chess. Watching the show’s protagonist, Beth Harmon, dominating games left to right while battling with addiction and loneliness, providing a dynamic viewing experience. I have to praise show creators, Walter Tevis and Scott Frank, for doing an excellent job at capturing Beth’s complex emotions through the game of chess. As a film enthusiast, I found it beautiful how they portrayed the game of chess through the light of emotions and thoughts. 

All in all, I am excited to take my newfound interest in chess and weave it into this summer’s work. With the company of my peers and Mr. Rabin’s supervision, I am certain this summer will be awesome! 

 

7 thoughts on “Somaiya Ahmed, 2021 Summer Youth Employment Program Intern Introduction”

  1. Hey Somaiya, congratulations on getting into Tufts — that’s an impressive achievement! Around the same time I was wrapping up my own stressful period, I found betonred and was curious about their offers for players from Belgium. I started out trying a simple slot game, losing a few small rounds, but then decided to take a slightly bigger risk and ended up with a solid win. That little surprise lifted my spirits and reminded me that even small breaks can make a big difference when life gets intense.

    1. I recently read a post by an intern at a chess academy where they described how working there wasn’t only about mastering puzzles or openings. The experience helped them build communication skills by explaining strategies to peers and younger students. They also learned to handle responsibility because their role involved tasks like coordinating events or managing social media. On top of that they gained confidence by stepping into a professional environment and contributing to a team. The setting gave them a chance to apply creativity when designing graphics or campaigns, not just playing. And importantly they discovered how passions like art or media can link with chess, showing that a hobby can do more than entertain—it can become a bridge to new opportunities. Finally this kind of programme can give a tangible milestone to add to a resume, showing you took initiative and grew.
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