Dov Weinstein Elul ’24 graduated from Poly in June 2024 and has already made strides as a new alumnus. Now at Northwestern University, he contributes to The Daily Northwestern as a reporter as he continues his passion for photography, capturing campus sports events and more. Before graduating, one of his standout achievements was co-creating a then-and-now photographic book documenting the history of Poly’s Dyker Heights campus, titled Far Down on the Heights Called Dyker: A Photographic Journey, with Michael Gabriel ’24.

During his time at Poly, Weinstein Elul honed his skills in journalism and photography as a dedicated writer for The Polygon and a collaborator with Poly’s Communications Department, where he launched the Get to Know series, interviewing his peers on campus. This series spotlights the diverse interests and pursuits of the Poly student body. Now, Savannah Parks ’28 picks up the mantle of the Get to Know series with her first feature: a profile on the series’ originator, Dov Weinstein Elul ’24.

Meet the Creator of the Get to Know Series Dov Weinstein Elul ’24

Profile and photos by Savannah Parks ‘28

In the student voices series, Get to Know, Savannah Parks ’28 introduces us to fellow Poly community members she meets around campus.

“I would have never expected when I came to Poly that I’d be a writer.” – Dov Weinstein Elul ’24

Dov’s love for photography came from his cousins, both of whom share a passion for photography and portraiture. Dov received his first camera in Grade 6, before his time at Poly began. He took candid photos of people, ditching landscapes or object-oriented photography to focus primarily on people in motion. Landscape shots, he admits, “always felt a little boring to me, too easy almost.” He took special interest in candid photos because people, he thought, were a more interesting subject.  

Dov eventually became interested in the concept of pairing photography with writing, similar to certain sources online. One of his larger influences, the series Humans of New York, and a similar series, Today I Photographed, introduced him to the concept of pairing images with short snippets of writing. When he transferred to Poly in Grade 10, he brought these interests and hobbies together with the guidance of faculty members around him. He sought to create something inspired by Humans of New York at Poly, and was directed to an existing feature called People of Poly, which is published on Poly’s official website. As he continued to write for the website headed by Poly’s Communications Department, he became more invested in his work as a student writer. His features for People of Poly eventually increased in length over time, until Engagement and Communications Senior Manager Ms. [Laura] Grimm, suggested he turn his work into an ongoing series on Poly’s news page. “We conceptualized it together, naming the series Get To Know,” Dov shared. 

Toward the end of his second year at Poly, Dov began to develop a collection of publications, which you may have seen in the news section of the Poly Prep website or in The Polygon. His profile work highlights students in various areas of focus, from his first piece on Jack Bogner ‘25, a track athlete, to his final Get to Know installment on Sadie Schoenberger ‘25, who participates in many creative arts programs at Poly. He’s also written on swimmers, scientists, playwrights, and other spectacular examples of student activity on campus. Dov noted how the assortment of concentrations he exhibited through his writing was purposeful. “One of the things I was really focusing on when I was working on that series was showcasing [diversity in both the student body and their wide array of interests]. His profiles put a spotlight on the wide spectrum of different communities and passions at Poly, counteracting ideas that Poly is solely an athletic school by highlighting wider pursuits of the community.  Although Dov pursued his love of soccer on the boys’ varsity team, he also noted how his original impression really isn’t the case. He talked in regards to how he watched students around him discover the same thing. “[Students] come in [to Poly] with the notion that it’s a sports school, and then they get into theater.” He added, “Poly does have great sports. But it’s not only about sports.”

“[Students] come in [to Poly] with the notion that it’s a sports school, and then they get into theater. Poly does have great sports. But it’s not only about sports.”

Through his developing talent and passion for writing, Dov explored opportunities to create pieces he is passionate about inside the classroom.  His advanced journalism class, taught by Journalism and Media Studies Faculty and Advisor to The Polygon Ms. [Rachael] Allen was inspirational, demonstrating the versatility of journalism. He highlighted that the class taught  him how “journalism works,” and how to write stories that span different topics.  

Developing his initial interest in photography and melding it into his passion for journalism and literature was a transition cultivated by opportunities at Poly. His classes encourage him to write narratives that portray “how people grow and change rather than just a static picture of who they are.” Throughout his artistic career, Dov has learned new skills and practices to support his growth as a writer and journalist. One of the most valuable lessons he learned throughout his time at Poly was, “how to tell more complete stories,” he added, “I’ve learned how to include little anecdotes, moments that help bring a story to life.” Doing this, he says, “really humanizes the person in a nice way. It shows that they, too, have changed and grown.” And to Dov, telling impactful stories of people, especially those who are often overlooked, is what journalism truly is. “ [Journalism] should strive to share stories about people, people who don’t normally get their stories told.” And recording these journeys of the people around him isn’t just a high-school hobby or interest, it’s a passion he hopes to continue well into his adult career. “I would love to keep telling these stories that otherwise don’t get [attention].” And he’s taking steps to realize his goal. Dov now attends Northwestern University, home to one of the top journalism programs in the country.

As he watches the Get To Know series continue on under a new Poly student-writer, he expressed his hopes for what the series could become in the future. He spoke of its expansion, and creating a fuller catalog to incorporate additional student voices. An increased amount of pieces would give readers “a wide array of what it means to be at Poly.” Many different perspectives from student life around campus, he says, will more accurately reflect the experiences of how “any person can come here and fit in.”

To people entering Poly, who are hoping to pursue any writing-related course, he stresses the importance of writing on topics you are truly passionate about. “Find things that you enjoy looking into, topics you enjoy talking about, or people you like to speak to,” he suggests. Finding things to address that truly prompt your interest will make writing, “not feel like a job at all,” he adds that writing never has to be a burden “if you just look for things that you are interested in.”