What's Happening?
News stories felt approachable when I began journalism because they're all about the facts of who, what, when, where and why. They have helped me build my confidence as a writer.
In the darkness of the morning on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, a crowd of 20 Communicator journalists gathered just inside door three of the McNamara terminal at the Detroit airport. The day before had been spent flipping between news channels, pacing back and forth as presidential election results rolled in.
Tired eyes and heavy hearts clashed with excited smiles and anticipatory fidgeting. Ahead was a day of digging into democracy: visits to the Constitution Center and the Liberty Bell, all while digesting breaking news in real time.
The Communicator Goes to Philadelphia
Prior to 1 p.m. CHS’s 118 graduates showed up at Hill Auditorium to rehearse for their graduation. Six hours later they arrived again, this time wearing caps and gowns. Surrounded by loved ones, the familiar sounds of CHS jazz filled the air as students, friends and family members alike took their seats.
Prior to the ceremony, seniors shared conflicted feelings about the occasion. Despite her enthusiasm, soon-to-be graduate Serena O’Brien felt apprehensive about her speech.
Graduation 2024
The Fall NSPA conference will always hold a special place in my heart. Last year — my junior year — was the conference in Boston where I began to bond with senior editors. They later grew into some of my closest friends and biggest role models who sometimes still edit my most important articles. This year's conference was held in Philadelphia and was equally as special for me. Between cookies from Levain downtown and adventures in the hotel elevators, we made memories and learned about all things journalism. So I thought "What better way to commemorate that than to write an article about it?" and that's just what I did.
Graduation (much like many things) at Community High School is different than it would be at a traditional high school. Instead of receiving a diploma from the principal, each graduate is handed theirs by their forum leader: an adult who has been their touch-point person for four years. And instead of one student giving a speech, each of 0ur 132 graduates gets to speak for 30 seconds. As I sat in the upper balcony, listening to the wisdom they had to share, I was overwhelmed by the gratitude I have that I get to call myself a rainbow zebra. This article was written during the ceremony itself and published shortly afterward and won first place for MIPA News Brief.
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In the wake of a $25 million accounting error, I found myself seated in the auditorium of one of the district's bigger high school's auditoriums. I had just come back from a lacrosse game, riding a bus paid for with district money. Teachers, parents and students alike urged the school board to retain middle school pools and elementary school languages. As a student, I think it's important to understand the system in which you are being educated. I think it's important that the local community has access to live updates surrounding time-sensitive issues.
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