Letter from the editor: The pain of goodbyes
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Dear Feather staff,
It's been about two weeks since Adviser Greg Stobbe and a group that included Co-Editor-in-Chief Mary Hierholzer and I returned from our sojourn in Seattle. With us, we brought home stories of fountains and fishmongers, knowledge acquired from classes and, of course, the coveted Online Pacemaker Award, an honor many of us did not expect to receive this year.
If you've paid attention in any of Stobbe's classes or even experienced a two-second conversation with him, you'll know by now that the Pacemaker is the National Scholastic Press Association's (NSPA) highest honor, and is often compared to the Pulitzer Prize. This is the award I, as well as many others, have strived for throughout our competition season, especially because The Feather was not recognized as a finalist for the 2010-11 school year.
For the past few months I have watched students flourish in their writing and editing, developing a passion for journalism I'd never seen in students my age. That's why it was so rewarding when, over the period of two consecutive days, we learned that The Feather was a finalist for both the Online Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and the Online Pacemaker Award.
Yet, that's why it was all the more heartbreaking when we didn't receive the first.
OK, so we did win a Crown, but anything less than a Gold, at the time, felt worthless. Honestly, I think I was so caught up in the mentality of winning that, when The Feather received a Silver Crown in March, I didn't know how to react (I literally froze up at the awards ceremony).
The first couple of days after the staff's trip to New York were some of the most difficult I've experienced this year. Throughout this period of time, I was plagued with the idea that, because of my lack of leadership (or something along those lines) we had missed out on a national award.
"Though Hierholzer and I will be attending college out-of-state next year, we've worked for the past couple weeks training students who will take our place. I've entrusted everything I know to you that remain, and I wouldn't be surprised to see you win both a Gold Crown and an Online Pacemaker next year." -- Nick Avery, Co-Editor-in-Chief
When class convened the next week, I was discouraged, to say the least. But then I remembered something I learned from an instructor at the High School Journalism Institute (HSJI) program I attended this summer. Essentially, while discussing The Feather, he remarked on how caught up we were in receiving accolades. "The goal of a high school publication should not be to win awards," he said. "It should be to cover your campus in a way that's accessible to students."
Of course, I'm completely paraphrasing. But the tenets of the message remain the same, and it's something I want to convey to all of you in this letter:
The reason you are currently enrolled in journalism is not to gain national recognition, a proclamation from the Fresno City Council or a plaque that, let's face it, won't mean anything to you in 20 years. Rather, the reason you are currently enrolled in journalism is to learn how to report online, voice your opinion in a responsible fashion and employ multimedia to your advantage. If you leave the class retaining even a fraction of what Stobbe, Hierholzer, your peers and I are attempting to teach you, it will be for the better. Trust me.
Fortunately, for the past semester and a half, I've had the opportunity to witness each and every member of the staff grow in this regard. Whether it be great or minuscule, you've all taken steps towards your journalistic advancement, and, for that, I applaud you.
It's your hard work that the NSPA noticed earlier this year, and it's your determination that allowed us to win our fourth Pacemaker. Had it not been for this year's amazing staff, I might have given up mid-March.
At the Washington State Convention Center, heading to the ceremony honoring Pacemaker finalists, I was contemplating how much respect I held for all those who work on The Feather. To be completely truthful, it was this that I was pondering when, to my surprise, we were named a Pacemaker winner. I can't think of a group that deserves this distinction more than the one I lead day after day.
Yet, unfortunately, I will not grace the halls of Fresno Christian next year. Never again will you hear me yelling with David Casuga while we blast distracting music, or see my weird little notes at the bottom of your articles that I tried to sign differently each time. Never again will I be able to critique you and teach you as I have this year.
However, I will be leaving you in capable hands. Though Hierholzer and I will be attending college out-of-state next year, we've worked for the past couple weeks training students who will take our place. I've entrusted everything I know to you that remain, and I wouldn't be surprised to see you win both a Gold Crown and an Online Pacemaker next year.
Though I am leaving you, I can genuinely state that you will not be leaving me. Attending college at Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, I will be a mere 280 miles from Seattle, the place where my staff surprised me and won an award I missed out on as a freshman and a junior. I will always remember you, staff, and I hope you will always remember me.
With love,
Nick
For my Co-Editor-in-Chief's letter, read the April 25 article, Letter from the editor: Success through inspiration.
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Posted by "Brady Lee " on May 1, 2012 at 1:05 a.m.
Nick, it has been fun growing up with you throughout the years. From Mt. View Christian school to Fresno Christian, we have had many awesome experiences. Thanks for helping to make my journalism experience a positive one. I appreciate your hard work and leadership.
Posted by "Tynin Fries" on May 1, 2012 at 1:05 a.m.
The first time I read this article it made me cry. Then, when I read it again, it made me cry...again. You have a way with words, Nick.
I have had such a legit time this year working underneath you. You are a great teacher and I can only hope to fill your shoes. Thanks for everything you have done for both The Feather and for me.
This year, you have taught me much more than how to write well. And I'm going to miss all the cray-cray things you do on a daily basis. I'm so sad to see you move on to bigger and better things, but I'm exited to see all that you will accomplish.
The way you have led this staff shows a lot about who you are. It shows just how mature, wise and thoughtful you can be. I see so much in you and I hope that sometime soon you can see all the potential you have in yourself.
Love you kid!
Posted by "Mary Hierholzer" on April 30, 2012 at 1:05 a.m.
I love this letter, Nick. You're so right that it's not about winning awards. It's really easy to forget that sometimes! You've got a really great message here. It has been a pleasure working alongside you this year!
Posted by "Laura Casuga" on April 28, 2012 at 1:05 a.m.
Nick - this was a really touching letter to your staff. You and Mary have been an incredible duo this year and have each used your strengths to train, lead, encourage and cajole your staff into doing their absolute best. So proud of you!
Posted by "Angie Fries" on April 28, 2012 at 1:05 a.m.
You inspire, you motivate, you lead by example, you teach, you train, you use and share your God given gifts. Yes, you pretty much ROCK and you will be missed. Thank you Nick. Thank you Mr. Stobbe, because you are all Stobbe's mini-me's.
Posted by "Kenna Wheeler" on April 28, 2012 at 1:05 a.m.
You already know my reaction to this letter, Nick, since you were with me when I read it. However, I'll try to put into words my feelings about it.
Congratulations on an outstanding year of journalism. I know how much effort you have put in to make The Feather amazing and it clearly shows in the articles you both write and edit. You have done a fantastic job this year and I can't congratulate you enough on your success as an editor.
Even though I am not on The Feather staff, you're a great leader and you push all the writers to do their best. Even though I'll miss you a lot when we go our separate ways for college, I know you'll be able to take the passion you have for journalism and channel it into a passion for whatever you continue to do with your life.
Your letter was wonderfully written and I know you'll go on to do more amazing things with your life.
Posted by "Gigi Thao" on May 1, 2012 at 1:05 a.m.
This was a very touching article, Nick. Great job!
I just want to thank you for your amazing leadership this past year. As a fellow staffer, I've watched as The Feather has done some great transformations, like imbed videos into the articles, and have seen how your willingness to lead has helped move things along and force students to step out of their comfort zones.
This has honestly been one of the greatest years for me in journalism and I was delighted to have you and Mary as editor-in-chiefs. As we all go on to college, I am extremely excited to see how God will use your abilities to better others, as you have mine.
Thanks for the awesome year!