It’s a night in early July. The time: 2:20 AM. The scheduling window for my sophomore year had closed four months ago, yet I’m emailing counselors and Mrs. Basinger after I absentmindedly scrolled through the ADM course catalog and saw a little class called news journalism. My interest was piqued. I had to get into this class. On August 22, one day before the school year began, I was approved to take the class and my schedule changed. So did my life. I am so glad that I made the impulsive decision to drop marketing (sorry, Mrs. Blok) for news. This class has taught me so much; meet your deadlines (or else), work well with others and get rid of that Oxford comma. But the most important virtue I’ve learned was to take the risk.
I’ve always been able to talk to people pretty easily (oftentimes too much), but not like this. News has made me more comfortable talking to both authority figures (thank you, monthly press conference with Mr. Dufoe) and strangers (thank you, people of ADM). Even something as simple as approaching someone to ask a question is a small risk. In fact, this wonderful class has changed how I see the world. Now, I can see totally normal occurrences and think of how it could be a story. One time, as I was leaving the school, I got out of my truck and took photos of trash in the parking lot for a potential story. Instead of counting sheep, I brainstorm story ideas to fall asleep now. In math class, you are a mathematician. In science class, you are a scientist. But when you take news, you are a journalist 24/7.
Journalism field trips, even if I only signed up for them to skip school, have brought me to the University of Iowa and Drake University, where my sister graduated with a degree in journalism. I’ll be returning there this summer for a free four-day journalism camp that I won at the IHSPA Winter Thaw. How did I win this camp? I took a risk by asking people to like my comment on Drake’s Instagram (it was an interesting contest, I will admit). I do not like asking for social media clout, but I did it, and saved hundreds of dollars off of the camp price.
Every interview, every lecture on how to use a camera, every late night before (or after) a deadline, I’ve loved them all. Maybe they were hard in the moment, but I am better because of each rung on this journalistic ladder. Seniors (and Paul), I’ll miss you. Especially Mason, the matchmaker. But this is not the end. In August, I’ll be back in this room to continue what I’ve started. 2025-2026 is gonna be my school year. I’m gonna be a journalistic weapon.
So, take the risk. Although the process to join news has changed and you can’t impulsively decide to in the middle of July, take whatever risk you’re facing. Join that extracurricular. Ask that girl out (more on that in a video story next year). Get hypnotized at after prom. Whatever you’re on the fence about, just take the risk. Trust me, this is the best risk I’ve ever taken.
