Last month, I spent the day with Wyclef Jean and Aol, during which he visited and spoke to a classroom of middle school students at The Urban Assembly Academy for Arts and Letters, through a program called Citizen Schools, in Brooklyn, N.Y. It was absolute madness when we showed up to the school, kids were screaming and running after him, all so excited and happy for him to be visiting the school. When we finally made it to the classroom, the kids were absolutely adorable and so well prepared. They all had really intelligent, interesting questions for him, and his answers were really inspiring – sometimes funny, sometimes serious. The sweetest part was at the end, he played guitar and sang a song — and he would ask the kids their names and would incorporate their names into the song.

It really was an exceptional experience, and the kids were beyond sweet, intelligent, and genuine. After Wyclef spoke, Elizabeth and I talked to the students about life as a photographer, photo editor, etc. They had such interesting questions prepared, and it was a pleasure talking to them. One of the students even told us he wanted to be a photographer when he grew up!

You can check out the photo and video here on TheBoombox. Below, are some behind-the-scenes photos from our talk to the middle schoolers.