I was an 8th grade student when I sat down and looked at this packet filled with courses I could take my next year in high school. The mandatory academic courses obviously filled up my schedule layout first. I had limited elective space to choose from. However, it didn’t take long before I had journalism written down.

I knew journalism was something that interested me and I knew that I wanted to learn more about it. Finally, I was sitting in that fourth period class apprehensive about the trimester ahead of me. I saw the white text book, "Journalism Matters," and it terrified me. I thought I had signed up for something like a health class, where we only complete busy textbook work. But we eventually received our assignments, which varied from photo journalism, to making yearbook spreads, to writing articles. It was tough work, but I wanted to do my best. I learned the process of proper journalism, and I was most fascinated by the public need for our craft.

Halfway through the trimester, my adviser Mrs. Hoffman asked the class if anyone was interested in joining the newspaper or yearbook staff. Then she explained the daunting application process. We needed to submit three teacher recommendations, some sample work, and an informational application. I rushed to get my requirements completed for a newspaper staff position. Mrs. Hoffman called me in about a week later to discuss the application. I was so nervous that for some reason I felt my life in the journalism world was over. Fortunately, it turned out to be quite the opposite—she welcomed me to the newspaper staff for my sophomore year of high school. I was overcome with excitement and dreams of being the editor-in-chief one day.

Without the journalism class, I may not have gotten very involved in school. I would have let that little interest in journalism die. Instead, I was actually given the chance to learn about something that would help me become more mature and involved in the student body. Journalism class gave me a better outlook and understanding of my real-life career aspiration. Taking journalism was an experience that I’ll never forget.