Personal Narrative

For as long as I can remember, I have been captivated by people and their stories. As a child, I would love to meet as many people as I could in all areas and learn more about who they were as a person and their lives. I grew up playing softball and cheer, so my social circle was wide, and everyone I knew would always tell me that I would always be the first to make everyone feel welcome, as I do not have a shy bone in my body.  Honestly, this was because I had always been fascinated that despite knowing so many vastly different people from different parts of life, they all had their life stories to tell, and it amazed me how it would somehow connect people from opposing walks of life. But it wasn’t until I joined Tiger TV Media Group at South Panola High School that I realized I didn’t just want to learn about these incredible people's stories—I wanted to be able to share them.

When I first walked into the Tiger TV newsroom as a sophomore, I was sure that it was where I belonged. Although, I had grown up going to South Panola, the Tiger TV media group was very new, and was starting in the middle of my junior high years. My best friend was the one who encouraged me to give it a shot as she knew I would shine in the journalism setting.  I had always been outgoing and extroverted, so once I joined, my on-camera persona and broadcasting skills came naturally to me. However, the technological side of journalism was a different story.  I had never picked up a camera, written a news script, or used editing software. I had no idea what I was doing or what to expect, but I was eager to learn. That first year, I watched in awe as my older classmates seamlessly pieced together broadcasts, turning raw footage into compelling stories. Their dedication and passion inspired me, and I quickly found myself drawn to the energy of the newsroom. I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself—to inform, to engage, and to create meaningful content and stories that mattered to my peers and my community.

I started small, taking on a few daily broadcasts and small assignments and learning the ropes. My first segment was a short interview about a few upperclassmen volleyball players. I remember forgetting the questions at least five times and taking multiple days to learn how to edit the interview on Premiere Pro. But with each interview, each story, and each broadcast that I did, I grew more confident. I learned to adapt, to think on my feet, and to find the angle that made each story unique. I was finally getting to do something I had longed to do for so long, share the accomplishments, characters, and feats of amazing people in our school and community. When I saw some elementary school students talking about how they knew me from Tiger TV and talking about one of my segments in the hallways, I knew I had found something that I loved and was meant to do. The way those kids' faces lit up as they told me they wanted to be like me on Tiger TV one day made my entire world. To me, journalism wasn’t just about reporting facts—it was about making stories come to life and connections with people.

By my junior year, I had fully embraced my role in Tiger TV. I became more involved in the production process, taking on many weekly and daily broadcasts and more complex stories. This was the year that I was also the Sports Media Manager of our production team, so I took on the responsibility of leading our team at all sporting events and checking that all of our sports-related content came out with good quality and efficiency. I loved the thrill of being on the sideline at games and meets getting to capture the special moments of someone's accomplishments. Sports journalism is one of the aspects of being a journalist that I truly admire and adore the most. I worked tirelessly and put in many hours and days of effort into every post-game interview, hype video, and sports story that I did, and it finally all paid off. At the end of the year, I received my first-ever journalist recognition as a state finalist for both my sports reporting and hype video, and this honor filled me with joy and pride. The events and honors in my junior year made me realize that one of my favorite ways to share people's stories was through the exciting, roller-coaster journey of sports journalism. 

Of course, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. Balancing my work, new leadership, and responsibility in Tiger TV with my other commitments—including being captain of the cross country and track teams, being on a 2 national cheerleading team, serving as student council senior class representative, and being a part of many other clubs and organizations—was no easy feat. There were nights when I stayed up editing footage and graphics until the early morning hours, only to wake up early the next day for school and practice. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed, questioning whether I could keep up with the demands of journalism while excelling in my other responsibilities. But through it all, I developed resilience, time management skills, and an unwavering dedication to the art. I learned to thrive under pressure, to stay organized, and to push myself beyond my limits, and it has paid off in the end.

My senior year was a turning point. As I took on an even more demanding leadership role in Tiger TV as Co-Executive Producer, I found myself not only reporting news, feature, and sports stories but also mentoring younger students who were just as unsure as I had once been. I took pride in helping them find their voices, guiding them through the challenges of being on camera, and watching them grow into confident reporters. I also find joy in getting to tell the stories of people in the community as well. One of my favorite segments was one where I interviewed Miss Mississippi Teen America when she came to read to the young students at the elementary school. I not only had the privilege to meet this incredible young lady, but I also got to share her incredible story and mission about character development and anti-bullying with our entire district. This story filled my spirit not only as a journalist but as a human being as well. Journalism had given me so much, so I wanted to give back as much just as much. 

One of my proudest moments came recently during my senior year when I was named Mississippi High School Journalist of the Year—the first student in South Panola history to receive this honor or win any award from the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association. It was a surreal moment, a culmination of years of hard work, late nights, and a deep passion for journalism. But more than anything, it was a testament to the impact of student journalism and the importance of giving young voices a platform to be heard.

Looking back on the years of memories, I would not trade the world for any of it. I think back to just how much I have improved and grown as a journalist these past three years and the growth is truly remarkable. My advisor, Mr. Cockrell, and I began this program at the same time, and it has been such an exciting journey to see how much we have helped this program at our school grow in this short amount of time. When I first started, only about 30 people tried out for about 12 spots, and now, these past two years we have had roughly 150 kids try out for 10 spots both years. None of this would have been possible without the relentless support of my classmates, my advisor, and my family, and for them, I am so thankful because they will forever be a part of my story, and I hope to one day be able to share every one of theirs. Despite all the challenges I have faced, I will forever be grateful for all the laughing faces, the tears shed, the smiles on people's faces, the frustration and stress from every mistake, and the unforgettable moments that this program and journalism have brought me.

As I take the next step in my journey, I know journalism will always be a part of me. While I plan to attend Mississippi State University to study Biological Sciences with a pre-med concentration, I carry the lessons I have learned in journalism—curiosity, creativity, communication, teamwork, leadership, and a deep appreciation for the power of listening and sharing people's stories. As I attend Mississippi State University, I plan to continue taking classes in broadcast journalism, as well as apply to be a part of the social media or football media team at the school there. Whether reporting a story or diagnosing a patient, my experiences in scholastic journalism have shaped me into a stronger, more empathetic, and more determined individual.

Journalism has taught me that everyone has a story worth telling. And no matter where life takes me, I will always be ready to listen and share those stories.