Walking into Media Arts class freshman year, I felt so much doubt. “If you know this pathway is not what you want to be committed to, you need to leave,” my journalism advisor told us. I was placed in this class as a filler period because I was missing an elective, and I started to worry that the pathway would be too much responsibility that I wasn’t ready for. I proved myself wrong. By senior year, I had been Photography, Website, and Social Media Editor for our Newsmagazine staff, and the President of our Graphic Design Internship. I had some big shoes to fill, but in order to take the leaps I did, I had to start with baby steps.
I decided staying in the pathway wouldn’t be a bad idea. By sophomore year, I was promoted to Photography Editor. I hadn’t touched a camera besides my phone, so I took initiative, spending my summer researching photography. Soon enough I was taking pictures at sports events, Media Nights, and other photoshoots. I was good at it. People started asking me questions about how I take my photos. I realized I was meant to be in this pathway. I spent nights, weekends, and breaks devoting my time to this class, and it payed off. My stories on our website gained popularity, my photos got even better, and I was consistently improving. My passions became a big influence on my work.
I would stop at nothing to get the perfect interview. For my fashion article in the first magazine I was featured in, I called Vogue, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, Versace, and other high fashion brands, just to get every interview turned down. I still didn’t stop, and ended up with interviews from a local fashion magazine president, and a small fashion business owner. I realized my persistence is something to be proud of, even after failure.
I ran into that same classroom jumping for joy because I got an interview with Michael Jackson’s keyboardist. With some more emailing, I talked to Jackson’s backup dancer and guitarist. These were accomplishments that our small school in Mt. Washington hadn’t seen before. My persistence caught the attention of our Editor-In-Chief, promoting me to Website Editor in my Junior year.
I remember what it felt like to be a top editor. The feeling that after so many failures and uncertainties, my persistence and hard work were recognized by both my peers and teachers. I saw the tables turn, as I was now the one fueling my younger staffers’ passion and work ethic. When I helped one of our copy editors get over 9,000 views on her article, she began to feel the same way I felt sophomore year. Seeing her satisfaction with her progress made me realize that I can pass down my strengths, to lead others to success, showing me just how big my place is in the program, as long as I stay dedicated.
I want to continue to use my journalistic skills to tell the untold, to keep growing, to fall and get back up again, to see places I have never seen before. This pathway was my road to self-discovery. I learned how to consistently better myself, take the initiative to accomplish goals that seem out-of-reach, lift and empower others, and be a leader while helping my peers make their own path. I now know I can make a difference. I plan on attending the University of Kentucky in the fall, and majoring in Digital Media Design, to further pursue these passions. I can’t wait to see where else this path will take me and how I can keep on growing.