Devil on the blacktop (Best of Sno award winner) 

Earlier this year Monarch Pk-8, which is located right next door to Monarch High School, faced a notable incident that garnered local news attention. During recess, a group of 7th grade students gathered in a circle and began chanting 'Satan' and 'sacrifice.' One student, Emily Frost, was particularly disturbed by the event, and took out her phone to record the group. After the video was posted online, and received several hundred thousand views, administrators pulled Frost into their office to question her about the video.  

This article provided me with an opportunity to delve into a true news story. I got to write about current events and breaking news, something I otherwise very rarely get to do.

Jumping into the past 

Most schools are not lucky enough to have former Olympians on their staff, but ours does. Upon learning that two of the coaches of our track and field team competed in the Olympics, I knew that it was a story worth investigating. Annette Bank and Michael Tully are two of the coaches for Monarch High School's track and field team. 

Initially the story appeared to be a standard story of athletic success. However, after listening to them I realized that their narrative was much richer. My focus shifted from highlighting their journey to the Olympics, and ultimately to Monarch, to their deep emotional friendship. 

One student's story 

After attempting to write an article like this several times, in our fifth issue I was finally able to make it happen. Initially, I tried to write a story about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Due to a lack of perspective within our community, I had to make the decision to kill my story. When Sophomore Ruby Stein, who uses they/them pronouns, continued to reach out about the anti-Semetisim they were facing I realized that my mission, to inform, educate, and entertain, required me to tell their story. As I listened to them talk about what they had been through, the story almost wrote itself. We added this piece to the magazine just a week and a half before our final deadline, but it was not a struggle. This piece goes beyond a feature story, but it addresses an issue that has been pertinent in society for many years. This piece allowed me to better understand how to handle controversial and hard hitting subjects in an appropriate but interesting and informative manner. 

The prime effect 

Attending Deion Sanders' press conference was undoubtedly one of the greatest experiences that I've ever had. After talking to several people, myself and two other staff members were permitted to attend a press conference at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Sanders had just begun working at the school, and for the first time in many years, the football team was winning. 

When we entered the room we observed as TV stations and national magazines set up their expensive equipment. Armed with basic cameras and laptops, we carefully listened to every question. As someone announced that Sanders had time for just one more question, we knew, this was our chance. We were handed the microphone and Millie Barber, a staff member, introduced herself and asked one of the many questions we had prepared. Sanders was shocked when she announced herself as a high school student. He shouted, "Monarch High School?" "Let's do this." 

When we returned to school people had already begun to see the clip of Sanders talking about our school. Our principal even made it the sound of the morning bell for several weeks. Being at this press conference made the story feel exhilarating and important. Sanders was someone who had obviously impacted our school, but being at the press event confirmed just how large his reach was, and we got to cover it. Additionally, this experience solidified to me, that being a journalist was not just something I liked but something I loved, something I would certainly do for the rest of my life.