Personal Narrative

 Journalism has taught me how to write stories that an audience actually wants to read, to remain informed about current events, and to nurture my leadership skills. As an underclassmen, I was thrown into researching topics about which I had no previous knowledge, such as softball playoffs or Hispanic Heritage Month and the ways it is celebrated in Mississippi. While these situations did present me with difficulty, I saw them more as an opportunity to research and learn more about various cultural celebrations and sporting events so that I could educate not just myself but others as well. In drafting articles, I honed my investigative and rhetoric skills by writing for a variety of topical sections, all while remaining unbiased and practicing the art of integrating multiple perspectives. As I entered my junior year on the staff, I became the associate-editor and began to learn the intricacies of printing the paper and the craft of editing that shapes each story. I also was able to explore the management side of a “business,” and the importance of marketing and selling advertisements to local businesses in town. By senior year, I became the editor-in-chief of the paper and was managing and directing a 25-student staff to publish a print newspaper every month and update an online newspaper weekly. Since this staff included only five members who had previously worked on the paper, I had to instruct the new members on how to use design software and how to structure an article while also developing their personal writing style. While this lack of experience did provide brief hiccups in production, I was able to adapt to the new situation and craft creative solutions. These experiences sharpened my leadership ability as I learned how to meet deadlines and guide a newsroom towards a collective product. I look forward to taking these skills with me as I navigate the next years of my life and hope to always remain rooted in journalism one way or another.