As I walked into the gym for P.E. class, my freshman self was preparing for a day full of volleyball games. My friends and I were waiting to listen to the day’s instructions, and we started talking to our PE leaders about what classes we should take during our sophomore year. One of my leaders, who was The Stampede’s Editor-In-Chief, advised that I join Newspaper, but as a person who loved science and math, I thought that a class filled with writing would never be a good fit for me.

Clearly, I was wrong, as joining Newspaper has turned out to be the best decision I have ever made.

The first day that I walked into H208, as a sophomore, I knew it was where I belonged. I was placed in headlines, the news section, and right away I began taking on stories. I started covering events, interviewing people at Metea, and writing about it all. Initially, it was difficult to get everything done, but seeing my hard work published on Metea Media or in The Stampede was beyond rewarding. It inspired me to continue informing my audience and engage them in what was happening in our community.

But, it was not just this that made Newspaper so life-changing. Newspaper was not just a class, it became a family. The students in the class all have different interests, hobbies, and stories; however, we are all able to come together, learn from each other, and work towards a common passion. Our advisor, Mr. Page, creates the best example for everyone and builds such a strong classroom as well. There are days after deadlines where we all sit and talk about our lives over a box of donuts or just celebrate our hard work by playing games and listening to music. Every moment became memorable and created such a bond between everyone.
My freshman self would have never imagined that I would be where I am today, one of the editors-in-chief for Newspaper. Now, I have the opportunity to lead the staff, and I am able to connect with everyone and create great experiences. Even though I am not pursuing a career in journalism in the future, the lessons I learned from this class and the people I have had the chance to meet will stay with me forever. Newspaper has allowed me to grow in a way that nothing else has, and I am thankful for everything that this class has taught me.
If a student is interested in joining Newspaper, I highly recommend it. Students can sign up here by Jan. 15 to join the amazing staff.