Personal Narrative

Kelly Egan

NH Journalist of the Year

14 Feb 2024

Self-Analytical Essay

From the moment I picked up my blue glitter pen and Barbie notebook, I knew I was meant to write. While other kids groaned at the idea of essays, I beamed at the thought of writing. When teachers handed out graphic organizers to help us organize our ideas for an essay, mine would stay unused; my idea would already be swirling around in my head. I would start writing at the top of my paper and eventually, I’d be done. Though my dreams for the future have evolved since age nine, they’ve never strayed off the writing path. Whether it was starting a new children’s book every day in elementary school, developing screenplays in middle school, and now at age 16 being the arts and entertainment editor for my school’s news website, my blue glitter pen metaphorically stayed in my hand the whole way. 

When I first walked through the doors of my high school, I knew my passion for writing had to turn into a practical career path before my four years here were up. I had been set on writing since second grade, but there were a million different options I could choose from in that field. I knew if I explored all the possible options, I could eventually narrow my broad passion down to a college major and eventual career. 

During the course selections for my sophomore year, I finally had room in my schedule to enroll in the offered journalism class. My interest in the course sparked from a desire to strengthen my love for the written word more than already present. As the class started, I learned more about the process of writing articles and the endless possibilities of topics we could tell our audience. Since the only writing assignments I had done prior to the class were either creative or analytical, it took time for me to get used to the way articles were written. We couldn’t be opinionated, yet we somehow had to get our angle across to the audience. Journalistic writing is unlike any other form of writing, and I struggled with this. I had to learn AP Style as well as getting proper quotes and having the story flow.

I then attempted to write my own articles. It wasn’t long after I tested the waters that I dived right in and started writing about everything I could think of. I was obsessed with the idea of improving and producing as much material as I could. I wanted to become the best journalistic writer I could. Would I get discouraged when I asked one of the chief editors of our publication to edit my writing and I’d be left thirty comments of things I needed to fix? Absolutely. Was there time when I thought that I wasn’t cut out to pursue a career in this field? Of course. But now, two years later, as I am now in the Editor-in-Chief role I always aspired to have, I thank my fifteen year old self every day for not being discouraged by the criticism I got and for not giving up. My years of being a part of student news publication has taught me a gracious amount about not only myself, but of the underlying value this field holds in our society. 

Journalism not only promotes the personal stories of individuals whom people may not have known about, but it showcases the value of words. The simplicity of words being strung together by a journalist can change someone’s life. It could motivate them to try something new, change their values, alter their beliefs, and educate them on the world right under their fingertips. I learned how to inspire the students around me as well as myself, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I hope that I continue to feel and do this as my high school journalism career comes to a close and I open the door to the real world of media.