Editng, Leadership, and Team Building
Beginnings:
Picture this: A timid, nervous, anxiety-ridden freshmen in high school, who had just moved from a different state and knew virtually nobody. That was me (more or less). My daily routine consisted of going to school, then to volleyball practice, then home. I rarely went out with friends and didn't participate in any clubs at school- quite frankly, because I didn't know they exsisted. I spent most of my days trying to blend in and find "my people." Cliche? Absolutely. But, that's how I thought at the time.
By sophomore year, I had developed a more concrete group of friends around me and started branching out, both inside and outside of school. The biggest moment that kicked off my journalism career was when I attended my first Herd meeting with my senior friend. Being the youngest in the room, and surrounded by people whom I'd never met, was intimidating, to say the least. After attending a few more meetings, I decided that I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. This space, these people, this atmosphere; all became a safe place for me to be creative and embrace my writing skills which had often been suppressed by monotonous book reports and analytical "5 body paragraph" essays.
After my very first article was published in the paper, it felt real. My work! My writing! On a paper that the whole school can read? And on the website where anyone can read? Everything felt so much bigger than me. When I first walked into that meeting, I had no idea how much that single decision would change my high school experiences, both inside and outside of school. Through The Herd, I interviewed and built relationships with teachers that I otherwise would've never talked to, found my passions in both news reporting and writing about pop culture, and learned a consistent work ethic. Writing for the paper, in a way, pushed me out of my comfort zone- the push I needed.
Overtime, I didn't just grow as a writer, I began to grow as a person. I gained confidence, learned how to speak up for others, learned how to read, and learned how to trust myself. That one, single meeting turned into countless more. From then on, I've had the amazing opportunity to represent my state at the Al Nueharth Free Spirit Journalism Conference and study under The New York Times to gain hands-on journalistic experience. One of the most rewarding results of my journalism has been seeing the impact it makes on others. Whether that is covering a story topic that resonates with certain people, or making a silly, matcha-inspired capstone project- nothing quite captures the joy of seeing others be touched my pieces of work.
Now, as Editor in Chief, I tend to slow down in meetings and recognize the amazing people who show up to contribute to the paper. Between brainstorming ideas, formatting a paper, editing articles, and making the crosswords, it truly takes an army to keep our paper running smoothly- I could not have done it alone. As for me, I spend my time editing stories, guiding others, and helping them to find their voices. I know, first hand, how intimidating it can be when you're the youngest in a room- My goal as Editor in Chief is to encourage others that, in any space, in any article, or in any column of the paper: you belong. Your writing belongs. Your ideas and opinions belong. Journalism does not discriminate, and nor should it ever.
What I've learned through this journey is simple, but powerful: leadership and confidence are choices. They don't appear overnight, but they begin at the moment you say "yes." In saying yes, you commit to something bigger than yourself and you learn to grow as a person, as I did. In the end, I've learned that I am in full control of my own destiny. Sometimes, all it takes is walking into one meeting and believing you belong.
As my dad would say: "Regret is for things you didn't do" (thanks dad! love you!)