During my sophomore year, when I was signing up for my junior classes,  I decided to enroll in McKinley’s newswriting class. I made this decision because I loved to write, but the essays in regular English class didn't bring me joy. I had hoped to discover a form of writing I could learn to be proficient in and achieve something while still having fun.

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I had looked forward to my junior year, and I kept up with the quarterly newspaper prints. I loved seeing my friends in action and keeping up with events around the school and community. I began to ponder if I could contribute something important as well.

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Then in 2020, the pandemic hit. 

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I worried about how my classes would be affected. I had big plans for my junior year and worried that I would not get to experience the newswriting class.

 

Thankfully, The Pinion adviser sent me emails during the summer. She sent me slideshows and worksheets to study and complete. Through those emails, I was introduced to the basics of newswritng.

 

Then it was time for me to write my first article. A few weeks before the 2020-2021 school year started, I had word that McKinley was going virtual to implement, and so it began. I sent out emails to students and teachers I already knew whose activities were halted, and wrote about the impact the pandemic had on them. I knew I should have contacted a more diverse group of people rather than contacting people I already knew, but for the situation and my experience level back then I was proud of myself.

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I didn't want to make excuses though. I wanted to improve my writing process, so I did.

 

Over the course of my junior year, I got to know my fellow staff members better and even created a server on Discord, a social platform, so we could communicate more efficiently about articles and deadlines. I always offer to help with their art and I've taken photos or even drawn art to accompany their articles. 

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I love the creative freedom I have, while still fulfilling class duties. I've written all kinds of articles, ranging from sports, news, features, editorials, and even covered The Pinion centennial celebration. I usually focus on grammar, formation, and a smooth flow in my articles. I've seen improvement in my essay writing in my regular English classes as well.

 

One of articles was recognized on a website that looks through articles by students around the nation and put it up on their site called Best Of SNO. and I have received letters of gratitude for some of my work. When I read those letters I feel a sense of fufillment because my work had a positive impact in somebody's life.

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I will be attending Chaminade University in Spring 2023, where I will be continuing my journalism journey as I major in communications.