On August 5, 2021, I walked into journalism class for the first time, unsure of what to expect from taking a new elective. 

Over the summer, I hadn’t been paying attention to the news, but I figured class discussions would provide me with a detailed overview of the past few months. 

However, Mrs. Lockhart gave us a current events quiz within the first week of school, and I knew that I was in for a rude awakening.

I got three out of ten answers correct on my quiz and felt mortified to know that I had limited knowledge of the events transpiring around the world. 

This realization meant that I had to begin to draw up my ultimate plan of action.

As soon as I got home from school, I downloaded a variety of news apps on my phone, including CNN, AP News, Fox News, and El Paso Times.

From the start of my journalism career, I knew that variety in news angles was necessary for forming objective opinions.

My phone was set up to receive notifications for every breaking news story, and the next step was to turn on the TV to the local news station. 

Additionally, I consulted my dad every night at the dinner table so he could give me the rundown on all the news he heard on the radio while he was at work. 

I became so obsessed with our news discussions that I began to write and memorize the details of the news stories I wanted to share in class on post-it notes. 

Every night in August, I spent about 30 minutes curating my organized news briefing. 

One day, I realized that everyone had been reading the news off of their laptops, so there had been no reason for me to write notes. 

There went 10 hours of my life. 

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Throughout the year, I have learned to pay attention to all types of news stories: national, local, sports, politics, health, and the list goes on.

I began to excel at current events quizzes, and I earned an impressive collection of Rice Krispies Treats as rewards. 

Yes, I did share my earnings with my dad to thank him for inspiring my newfound appreciation for the news. 

Aside from the knowledge I gained from taking quizzes and watching the news, my writing and leadership skills improved tremendously. 

When I look back at my first articles, I remember how difficult it was for me to write without sharing my opinions.

I would stare at my computer screen for hours, attempting to follow the format of a spot news story. 

I remember thinking to myself, “How am I supposed to survive this class all year?”

Originally, I had applied to be a Staff Reporter for The Prax because I didn’t think that I was capable of editing stories on top of writing my own.

I lacked the confidence to share my articles in front of the class because I felt like I could find a mistake in every sentence of my writing. 

Mrs. Lockhart showed me that she believed in me when she encouraged me to become a Co-Editor-in-Chief, and ever since then, I have learned to never doubt myself.

I decided to take full advantage of the opportunity that I was given, and I collaborated with my fellow Co-Editors-in-Chief, Allyn Ransone and Orlyanka Tantchou, to create a strong support system. 

Together, we broke out of our shells, and I felt empowered to take charge and lead my peers in budget meetings, interviews, and class discussions.

I was finally comfortable in a class where I could talk about topics that were important to me while sharing my opinions in my editorials. 

With the help of Mrs. Lockhart and my classmates, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and understood that I needed to believe in myself. 

Now, whenever I walk into Mrs. Lockhart’s classroom, I enter my safe space, and I feel relieved of the stress from my other classes.

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As a Co-Editor-in-Chief, I have been able to work with all of my classmates, and I am extremely proud of how much their writing has improved throughout the year. 

The strong bonds we created emphasize the importance of teamwork and that, together, we can accomplish anything. 

As we continue to further our knowledge as journalists, I am looking forward to spending my last year in high school as a member of The Prax staff. 

I will always be determined to create quality and creative content in order to share information with our beloved Loretto community. 

Today, I leave every class with a smile on my face and the comfort of knowing that The Prax staff is my family, and our bond will never be broken.