My entire life I have experienced the love and support of ADM High School. This school and community has brought so many things to be grateful for in life, my best friends, school friends, amazing teachers, coaches, experience’s and classes. But the most important wave of support throughout would go to ADM News Journalism. This chapter of my life is coming to an end now but it has taught me nothing but the best things that I will forever cherish. Sophomore year, picking out what classes I wanted for my junior year and choosing News, even though I might not have people with me, was by far the best decision of my life.
So you may be asking why some news class was this influential on my life, well let me tell you why.
I was brought into this class with excitement, worry and stress but I soon came to find out it would be by far the best class ever. Some of the most important things I have learned from ADM News Journalism are little things like staying on task when it is needed most, putting yourself out there and meeting new people or experiencing new things. Most importantly it taught me friendship and family within a group of people. This staff, whether it is last year or this year’s is nothing short of family. Inside this news room with thousands of ideas and creativity to inspire you on the walls, it showed me how people in your life will come in it for a reason when it’s least expected. The most important and powerful people in this class have been Alexa Teckenburg, Mrs. Basinger, and, of course, the entire staff we have worked with.
Mrs. Basinger is such a special and charismatic person. Without a doubt she will be there for you at the drop of a hat and support you with whatever crazy ideas you have for a story or party. I felt myself each month of each year in this class get closer and closer to her. She wasn’t just a teacher in the school halls, she was someone who cared for you like her own. Basinger has through and through supported all of my ideas of News, whether it is a fun Valentine’s party or a story trying to interview THE Caitlyn Clark. Every day you speak to her you can feel the overwhelming support and proudness she radiates towards us all. She will never be forgotten and will always be one of the most powerful people I have ever came across at ADM High School.
Alexa Teckenburg–where do I even start with her? You will never have a dull moment or conversation with her and that’s what I love about her the most. She is so excited for you all of the time. You might wonder why is this girl one of my impactful people who have taught me so much in News. Well, we both entered News together our junior year, unaware of all the amazing things that would come out of this class for us. We were so young and aspiring and wanted to make such a great podcast that we could be relatable, entertaining and many things for people who tuned in for the BlackandRedgister, and that’s exactly what we did. She taught me how to always have fun with ideas even if they were so weird or crazy and be more opened minded. She taught me how to be authoritative and stronger, which may come across as weird but we both developed into strong leadership roles together. I could not have done News Journalism without her, our gossip seshes or our crazy fun podcast episodes and ideas. This staff will always be a reminder to me to be influential to people, how to help others in productive ways and have an open mind to everything, I will never take for granted any of the times or things I have written within these walls or the people I so deeply care for.
Thank you ADM News Journalism for being my outlet to share my thoughts, to learn how to go outside my comfort zone and most importantly the people it brought to me and the lessons it taught me. This is the end of my chapter for my book of life but will always be the most amazing chapter I have written.
