Opinions : Column
Journalism expands senior's creativity

By Chelsea Wathen,
Writer
May 18, 2010

The bell rings. Chemistry is over. "Finally onto a class I understand," I say.

I walk down busy hallways, weaving in and out of loud junior highers and video productions cameras, reaching to open the door to my artistic domain.

For the last year, as a senior, journalism has been one of the best classes I have ever taken. The second I enter the room I feel valued, accepted and happy. Being on The Feather staff, I was given the ability to take a blank piece of paper and fill it with my own thoughts, opinions and stories.

As a high school student, I could never quite find my place. Chemistry goggles left lines on my face, math gave me a headache and I always found a way to leave something out of the recipe in home ec.

But this year I found a very special class that I almost felt was made for me. The creative art of writing has long been a strong point for me; in journalism, I have been able to unleash that gift to help others, inform students or inspire individuals.

However, my path to publications class and senior year was not an easy one.

I had never been the math and science type. Those were the classes I typically slept through or 'went to the restroom' in for a really long time. But traveling to my first day of English class, I opened the door to see my bright-orange-haired teacher with an inviting smile. After one semester I found that English, particularly writing, was my favorite thing. I was able to express my opinion and feelings about any subject without any ridicule or rules, except when I lacked the occasional comma or colon, which I never felt necessary to use, of course.

This class was the beginning of a love for writing that could never be replaced. A year went by and, entering my senior year of school, I reflected on the past and decided I needed to be involved with something on campus. After all, I couldn't ever play a sport without getting hit in the face with a ball and I always thought AcaDec was an abbreviation for some crazy cult, so those were out of the question.

Examining the options at a school of 300 people was a little different from doing so at a public school. I felt my only option was publications. Knowing Mr. Stobbe already, I decided I wouldn't mind working for him. However, what I was unaware of was the incredible freedom and happiness writing for The Feather would bring me throughout the year. 



I began to write articles on things I was interested in, involving the community outside of school. Being able to think is one thing, but to channel those thoughts and opinions into an article for your entire school is something different. It is truly an amazing feeling.

I never thought that I belonged in any type of club or sport until I joined the journalism staff. I never thought that a stuffy, cramped and rather loud classroom could hold so much magic and promising talent. I consider it an honor to write with some of the people on this staff and know that these human beings are the future of not just newspapers and magazines, but books and speeches as well. The creative and skilled minds that make up this staff that I now call family are bright and gifted beyond any other newspaper group.

As a whole, my experience with The Feather has provided an invaluable outlet for me that I wouldn't trade for anything. I thank my parents for the encouragement they gave me to step out and try something new. Without it I wouldn't have grown as a writer, student and person.

Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I'm not your typical private school student. I tend to be more liberal than most, I like crazy music and I definitely am not the kid in the front row during chapel.

I do, however, firmly believe that this school has helped me tremendously in my life. I have figured out who I am and I am ready to move onto a new place to meet new people and thrive.

For more senior reflections, read the May 18 column, FC environment molds senior.