About Me

I have always been an anxious person as well as a grade-A introvert.

 

That is— until I joined The Oriole newspaper staff.

 

At the time, I was one of the very first freshmen to join at semester; it was practically unheard of, and immediately set me apart from the rest of the staff. As a scared fifteen-year-old, I had no idea what to expect from the people who would be waiting in that room: glares, cruel comments, isolation? I was terrified.

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Until the moment I walked into the lab I would call home for the next three years. My Editor-in-Chief at the time, as well as the rest of the staff, mostly upperclassmen, welcomed me with open arms and without so much as a sideways glance. 

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​The staff took me in and taught me so much about what it meant to be part of The Oriole, the drive and determination a person has to have to be great. I have learned so much about myself and been able to form my own perceptions of the world; what I believe and choose to stand for. Newspaper has allowed me to grow worlds beyond my comfort zone.

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Whether rushing to meet a deadline, sitting down with a staff member to explain edits on their story, taking pictures at an event or leading a Padlet discussion, I know who I am and what I am capable of doing as a leader and a reporter. I have learned how much I can tolerate and where the limits are before I stretch myself too thin. Most importantly, I know how to put together a production that creates quality journalists. 

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​However, it hasn't always been easy. The biggest struggle I faced in my time on staff is knowing when to trust my gut. The idea of standing in front of the room, calling all the shots used to send me scrambling for the door.

 

Not anymore.

 

The role of Editor-in-Chief has been the best thing to ever happen to me. Freshman me would rather have curled up into a ball to make herself as small as possible, rather than face the decisions I make everyday head-on. Answering questions from my reporters, deciding when to use the word 'and' rather than the symbol on social media, approving story graphics for the website, and editing on-the-fly are only some of the interactions I now have every class period. I have had to find a balance of when the time to push my staff is versus when we need to take a step back and try again later. My time on staff has made me grow tremendously as a leader, and will continue to shape me long after I leave.

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Being on staff has led me to my future career path. I plan to attend Missouri State University to double major in journalism and graphic design. In the end, I cannot see myself being a reporter in today’s world, writing the stories that will sell the best instead of what people need to know; however, I do see myself behind the scenes, designing all the aspects that make up a magazine. I love page design: taking a handful of separate elements and creating a space where they belong together. Design is the purest form of magic to me. A part of my heart will always belong to reporting; the rush of writing stories and putting together the perfect story, but I have found my place in the world of journalism. 

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​Integrity, honesty and willingness to try new things are extremely important qualities to me, so over the last year I have been striving to lead by example and exemplify these core values for my staff. I cannot tell them the rules of journalism and what I expect from them if I cannot follow those same rules myself. I look back at the last four years, and I am so proud to say I made it this far. I know I have showcased those virtues throughout my time at Augusta High School.

 

My generation deserves good, unquestionable journalism that they can rely on, and I plan to pursue a career within this industry. I plan to become part of the change I want to see in the world.