When I first signed up for journalism, I didn’t know what to expect. I added journalism as an elective after meeting with my counselor over a mess-up in my freshman-year schedule. Classes were slim pickings, but thankfully there was room in 5th period Journalism 1.
In such uncertain times, I was excited to have a new outlet to connect with my school during the pandemic. Little did I know how much my four years with The Wire would impact my high school experience. As I celebrate my last days of high school, I reflect on my time with The Wire, and I truly can’t imagine what my high school years would be like without my journalism family.
Through journalism, I have stayed in touch with the happenings of West Po and connected with the student body.
For as long as I can remember, Ms. Cooper has started every journalism class with the question: “What’s happening?” If there’s anything significant going on in the world, locally, or in West Po, we talk about it. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that almost anything is newsworthy, or, as Ms. Cooper would say, “That’s a story!”
Journalism has taught me to see stories through multiple lenses and to always be thinking about what perspectives should be shared to strengthen an article. Coming into West Po as a shy freshman, I was pushed to put myself out there and connect with those in the school. Through conducting interviews, going to various school events to snap a quick photo for a story, and even passing out the paper every quarter, I’ve been introduced to so many different people.
Making the paper has allowed me to express my creativity in new ways and grow as a leader. In my sophomore year, I assumed my first editor position as a social media editor and loved thinking of new ways to make news and journalism fun through our social media pages. As I learned the intricacies of InDesign and how to lay out the paper, I got to see my work unfold in the newspaper, and I felt immense joy and pride for the work we do on The Wire. Becoming the editor-in-chief of The Wire was my first ever big leadership role. This position has allowed me to help other writers reach their fullest potential, which is one of the most rewarding feelings.
This class has brought me closer to many people and has been the place where I’ve made some of my closest friends. In junior year of journalism, you could almost certainly find Emmie, Mercedes, Annie, and me sitting on the rainbow carpet in the corner of the classroom chatting, doing homework, and (sometimes) working on our stories. This year, I’ve cherished my time racing in the NYT Mini Crossword every morning with Jackson and walking around the halls after conducting interviews.
I’m so grateful for The Wire editorial staff, which has grown immensely since my freshman year. Working alongside all of the staff, especially co-editor-in-chief Miguel Tsang, we have created many successful and timely newspapers that I will forever cherish and look back on with comfort and joy.
To Ms. Cooper, thank you for always pushing me to be a better writer and encouraging me to seek news in everyday life. Thank you for always letting me stay in your classroom during my free period to work on the paper, or to just escape the stress of everything for a little bit.
To all of my fellow journalism students, thank you for trying your best and putting yourself out there. I hope you stick with journalism and that this class can become a place for you to express yourself, just like it has been for me.
Finally, thank you to West Potomac for always having something new for us journalists to write about, and keep staying newsworthy. 🙂
