When I first joined the Newspaper class, I was terrified. I didn’t feel fit to represent Walton-Verona. Not only having the burden of representing Walton-Verona, having to interview students terrified me, and having to learn a whole new subject made me anxious, too. Even though I was nervous, being a part of the Paw Press community opened my shell. Having a great teacher and caring environment pushed me to put forth my best effort into every article I wrote. Starting out, I had no clue what I was going to write for my article every week. All the possibilities flooded my mind, and I had no idea if what I wrote was worthy of others’ attention either. However, Mrs. Sampson’s guidance helped ease the stress, and her positivity and encouragement pushed me to want to change newspaper history.
I have loved coming in to 4th period every day. Seeing familiar faces and being able to joke around with my friends made the class enjoyable. Over time, I learned so much about my peers, not just as classmates but as individuals with unique stories, talents, and perspectives. Being part of the newspaper staff pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and connect with people outside my usual friend group. Through interviews, collaborative projects, and shared deadlines, I found myself forming new friendships and gaining confidence in starting conversations. Now, people I may not have talked to before come up to chat, and I’ve realized how rewarding it is to build those unexpected connections.
I’m also incredibly grateful for the practical skills I’ve gained through journalism. Interviewing, editing, managing social media, meeting deadlines, and thinking critical are skills I know will stay with me and serve me well in whatever path I choose next. I’m proud of the work we’ve done, and I hope whoever takes on the newspaper in the future continues to bring creativity, dedication, and passion to the team. This class has truly been a highlight of my high school experience. I am also glad I have taken away valuable journalism skills.
In the future, one thing I would hope the next newspaper class would learn is to build a community and branch out. At first, I only talked to the same handful of students, but because of newspaper, I talked to kids I normally never would’ve and have grown a bond over asking them a silly question. I hope the next generation of newspaper kids will learn how to stay on top of relevant information and write with a purpose.
Thank you, Paw Press, for becoming a safe haven for many.
Peace Out!
