I have been journaling for a long time, but adding an “ism” —turning my journal into journalism—was something I never expected.
Journalism has been a huge part of my high school life. On school days, I spend my free time after finishing homework watching documentaries and reading in-depth feature stories. During weekends and summers, I enjoy writing articles, conducting interviews, analyzing journalism for my part-time job, connecting with student journalists across the country, and engaging with professional journalists. While I love journalism, it has also brought tremendous setbacks and moments of self-doubt.
Reaching the point where I can confidently say, “I am passionate about journalism,” wouldn’t be possible without the many people who have supported me, explicitly or subtly, through challenging times. In addition to expressing my gratitude to everyone in The Quill, especially Mrs. Lee, for fueling my appreciation for scholastic journalism, I wish to dedicate this column to my personal journey in journalism. There are countless people I want to thank, and this time, I’ll share my gratitude through my school newspaper.
Alice: You were the first friend I made through journalism, listening to my day-long excitement when I first got into it. Your time and thoughtful edits on my article meant a lot. At the same time, thank you for hearing out my mini rants when I got rejected by more than 20 people for an interview—and for helping me find more.
Arelis: Thank you for reminding me that I should never feel small about myself or my journalism qualifications, even in the face of many leading professional journalists. Thank you for asking me about the meaning of my Chinese name, 童语. According to my dad, it means authentic and naive language without embellishment—exactly what a journalist is meant to do. I now know a connection between journalism and me.
Ben: The backlash situation with publishing my business profile piece was challenging for me. Thank you for calling the shops I interviewed, waiting with me patiently, and teaching me the legal and ethical issues in professional journalism. We are both INFJs, a personality type that seems impossible to do journalism, but I admire your courage and empathy, more than anything else.
Prof Bogues: You exposed me to so much journalism knowledge, gave me countless edits and constructive feedback on all my early drafts, and were the first to teach me the importance of asking tough questions. “Great journalism is grounded in facts but never forgets humanity” is a lesson I’ll always carry with me. Thank you for checking in on my progress and for telling me you’re proud of my work over the past two years. Thank you for sharing endless journalism connections and life advice, and for always saying that I’m a special gift to journalism.
Mrs. DeSurra: C109 was a safe space where I gained the confidence to write and share my work with others. Thank you for caring so much about my feelings and for offering timed writing assignments that were both challenging and rewarding. The skills I developed in AP English are essential for writing journalism in a time-pressured environment. I still remember the after-school interview we did for one of the journalism competitions I entered. Although I didn’t win, it was incredibly meaningful to me. Thank you for all your support during my writing rejections. I feel so proud every time I share my journalism achievements with you.
Ms. Felizardo: Thank you for always supporting me and showing interest in my journalism work. I especially appreciated it when you asked your class to help with one of my stories when I was shy. Your compliments on my Op-Ed once made my day; I couldn’t believe such a deeply sensitive article could be viewed so positively. I enjoyed our discussions on so many issues, and I’m grateful for your encouragement to always explore different perspectives.
JCampers: We are so diverse, with different backgrounds, ethnicity, faiths, and journalism focuses. Thank you for sharing your story, and building a diverse community where I feel belonged. I learned so much from each of you. I hope our whatsapp group chat will stay active forever. Thank you for being kind, inclusive, resilient, and the most down-to-earth journalism nerds!
Jenny: I am so lucky to have been your roommate. With you by my side, cramming for news quizzes at 6:30 a.m. while half-awake and sharing our journalism doubts wasn’t so bad. Hanging out at J-Day, learning about environmental journalism, and staying up till midnight talking about our shared love for journalism were incredibly rewarding. I’m excited to see The Pearl Post thrive even more under your leadership.
Liz: Your warm smiles every time I ask a question make me feel better about my sometimes annoying curiosity. Your “ten rules of writing” and lessons on empathetic journalism have given me the confidence and care needed to handle sensitive situations thoughtfully. Most of all, thank you for thinking about me and giving me your journalistic connections when I was at the National Convention.
Mrs. Moore: I would not be able to develop critical questions in journalism without your APUSH class–one that pushed me to ask questions when I didn’t know the answer, and search for the truth when I had any doubt. There will always be untold stories, both historically and present; you inspired me to be humble with knowledge and grapple with the “why” and “how” behind every story. Thank you for giving me comments on all the journalism–whether published or unpublished–I sent.
Neal: Thank you for caring deeply about my story and my future. Coaching me, giving in-detailed professional edits about my lengthy stories mean so much to me. When my story couldn’t get published because of consensus issues from my sources, you taught me how to deal with these situations as a professional journalist. I miss your humor, and I appreciate your dedication to youth journalism.
Ms. Wright: Thank you for always cheering me on when I was in doubt of my writing ability. I would probably not continue writing journalism today without your support. In sophomore year, you were the one who believed in my writing potential when I was on the edge of giving up. You are always so encouraging and enthusiastic about my every journalism achievement – I appreciate it so much.
My parents: Thank you for always supporting my love for journalism, driving me to different places to conduct interviews, and being with me at journalism conferences. Although our opinions often differ, discussing journalism biases at the dinner table is always eye-opening. I am so grateful to have heard—and continue to hear—all the stories you share with me that I can tell and pass on. I would love to be a journalist, but I’m not sure if journalism will be my lifelong path, as life holds so many possibilities. Still, thank you for making it the most important experience of my high school years. I will be forever grateful.
