About
I grew up reading stories, first, the pages were mostly just pictures but eventually, I ventured into chapter books and articles. Now I am the one who wishes to tell stories. Everywhere I go, I always try to bring a little notebook and pen to jot down inspiration from the world around me. No matter the type of writing, nonfiction or fiction, I want to bring the reader in so that they can experience the moment alongside the character or person. Journalism allows me to do just that, I can tell others the stories of my community and school by giving a voice to those who may not always get the chance to be heard.
I was born in New England, where I developed my interest in the outdoors. Today, I am very passionate about education and the environment and try to learn as much as I can in both topics. As a writer on my school news magazine, The Muse, I am developing my craft and challenging myself to do at least one thing better every day.
In my free time, I most likely flip through a book, but when not I can be caught teaching macrame lessons to the community, caring for my dozens of houseplants, gardening, or raising my flag as a soccer referee. I am the Co-President of the Sophomore Class and the Co-founder and President of the Dreyfoos Good Thyme Garden Club.
email: makenasenzon.themuse@gmail.commaken
instagram: makena.senzon
My Reflection on Being a Student Journalist
Student journalism always seemed like an amazing endeavor, but never one I would have thought I could even get the chance to take part in. Years ago, I wanted to try my hand at journalism so I joined my school's newspaper club in middle school, but when I was the only student that showed up to the first and last meeting, the teacher decided to cut the whole project, despite my protests not to. Dejected, I continued writing creatively and put my hope for reporting on a temporary back burner.
January 25th of my eighth-grade year was when that flame was reignited. It was my high school audition for a school that would let me pursue my passions in communications, I told myself that I needed to get in. After practicing my speech under my breath until my throat felt dry, I needed something to stop my hands from shaking. On the side table to my left, I saw some copies of The Muse. I picked one up and forced my fidgety fingers to flip through the pages. I read every page and every article with nervous adrenaline and entertained the idea of how amazing it could be if my name was in the byline one day.
Now, here I am. A writer on The Muse and thinking of that nervous girl in the audition room and how she would smile with my name on the byline of several stories, and I know that this is just the beginning.
For journalism, I have climbed a ten-foot vertical ladder in the dark and watched a performance from the control box, trying the whole time to not trip over all the wires I stood around. Another story I spent hours in the archives of a library, looking through dozens of dusty yearbooks from a century ago. Recently, I have been able to access and crawl into hidden areas of my campus that I never even knew existed.
Being a student journalist allowed me to see things from angles I quite literally would never see otherwise, but most importantly it has allowed me to be trusted with the stories of so many and I have been able to share those stories with the community.
Going forward, I want to continue to learn new things in journalism every day. I want to share the diversity that our school has to offer and share the issues that need to be highlighted. I want every story to be better than the last and to never shy away from the more difficult topics. There is never an end to improvement and I am so excited to continue on this scholastic media journey.
Though my hands still shake on the inside during an interview, I just grasp my reporter's notebook and pen, ask the questions, and just truly listen, not listening so I can respond, but listening so that I can hear.