As long as I can remember I’ve always been interested in writing. It feels like such an expressive outlet for creative people, and I love the lengths to which writing takes us. You can learn so much from reading others’ writings, or have your thoughts completely recommenced. When I truly experienced the atmosphere of this class my junior year, I felt instantly encapsulated, and I yearned for a chance to put my own pieces out there in the Legacy world! I knew I had to join Newspaper the next semester, and so I did! 

I truly discovered my love for writing in various English classes I’ve taken, namely AP Lang – in which I felt like my skills as a writer grew greatly, and I was ready for even more! Newspaper was such a breath of fresh air. The creative freedom Legacy gives its students is a wonderful experience, and no other class is quite like this one. Being able to write for the school newspaper with the touch of my fingers to my keyboard felt so freeing; no longer was I writing responses to prompts, I was expressing myself and my creativity, just like I was writing for fun. 

In Newspaper, it can be risky to choose a topic you feel confident in while also appealing to the mass interest of our school’s students. Sometimes you want to go with the interview approach, but it seems hard to find those people, or sometimes you are missing pieces of information that would complete your article. You must carefully select your topic and then make it stand out and appeal to your audience. My biggest piece of advice for writing your articles would be to make certain that you are passionate about what you are writing about. I found myself writing a lot of articles about arts and entertainment that take place here at AHS. It was easier to write the articles that way and also easier to get interviews since you seeked answers and information, and getting that insider perspective is just keen to you and your piece. My second piece of advice is to get a peer to help you revise your article so you don’t accidentally post gibberish! And besides it can be very helpful to get another opinion on your article to see your strengths, your weaknesses, and if your piece is appealing.

My favorite thing about being a part of Newspaper is the people and how it truly feels like its own small community. My friends who had previously been a part of Newspaper before I joined introduced me to the world when I was a junior, and I quickly felt welcomed, even though I only spent time in that classroom to see my friends while doing work for my Wake Tech CCP class. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t drawn to their journaling though because soon I enrolled in Newspaper for the following semester. I look forward to going to Newspaper everyday because I know I can feel comfortable in the environment and have a fun time with my friends as well as other peers. I learn a lot from my peers, and I truly feel they have a lot to offer when it comes to advice and ideas for writing. I will definitely miss the environment and all the opportunities this class brings me. The Legacy team has definitely been a special experience. 

It’s been a memorable experience being a part of the school Newspaper; I wouldn’t change it if I could. And I know I’ve learned so much from this class and from all the wonderful people involved. Legacy is just something that you’ll always remember and want to look back on. I feel in my future studies, I will for sure use my journalism skills that I have learned in this class, and help use those skills to propel myself to greater heights, and to success. So, I am grateful to have been part of Legacy and having my own special spot in this little world AHS offers.