Throughout my four-year journey in high school, journalism has been there with me. I was first introduced to journalism during my freshman year by my sister who had been in it for the entirety of her high school career. At first, I was reluctant to take the class, in fear that I did not have the writing capabilities or creativity to be able to write and publish good articles for others to read and enjoy. Looking back, the leap of faith I took to join the class was one of the best decisions I made in high school.
Although I struggled at first adapting to the environment around me and figuring out how to expand my writing skills, I had an amazing journalism teacher who continuously encouraged and pushed me to develop my own style of writing and write about things I was truly passionate about. So I continued to write, and write, and write various articles ranging from opinion to sports, to current events, to fashion, and so on. Eventually, my writing skills expanded along with my journalist mindset, and I began to publish stories about topics I truly cared about and provide readers with why my story matters and the impact it had on the world and our society. For me, controversy in a story didn’t matter. I believe it is my job as a journalist to provide the truth and report the facts. I never wavered from asking the “hard” or uncomfortable” questions even when faced with resistance because I was determined to provide articles that provided answers and the true human element. Over time, I realized how passionate I was about journalism and all that it had to offer, and thus continued taking the class over the next three years. For me, journalism became an outlet where I could channel all my opinions, thoughts, and interests. It became a lens through which I could see the world through.
Over the course of these four years, I have learned so much, gained so much, and been given opportunities I thought I would never get, one being the roundtable discussion regarding the FY2026 Advertised Budget with Dr. Reid and other fellow student journalists from other Fairfax County high schools. However, the most fulfilling part was working alongside my peers and students, teaching them what I was taught during my first years in journalism and walking through the editing cycle with them, watching them gain their own journalist voice and develop their own style of writing.
Looking back now, I realize these moments sitting in a vibrant classroom, pushing out drafts, interviewing sources in the halls, or brainstorming topics even when I couldn’t think of anything, have all shaped me. Journalism taught me to think critically and empathetically, to ask uncomfortable questions, and to listen to the stories others trust me to tell. It gave me the courage to publish pieces about issues I cared about, even when they were controversial, and the skills to create those pieces in terms of facts and human impact. It connected me with people and perspectives I never would have encountered otherwise, and it opened doors to experiences that I could not have imagined freshman year.
Most of all, journalism gave me a voice. It provided a platform to share my passions, ideas, and opinions, with a wider community and to learn that my words can make a difference. For that, I’m forever grateful. As I close this chapter and prepare to graduate, and look toward whatever comes next, I carry with me a deep appreciation for the power of journalism. I know I will keep asking questions, keep reporting the truth, and keep using the skills journalism has given me to amplify not only my own voice but the voice of those who need to be heard.
