What journalism has taught me

By Andreale Mitchell ’23

I hate writing. “Hate”  is a strong word, so maybe I’ll say I despise or loathe it. No matter which way I put it, however, I don’t like it. 

Throughout my life, I’ve been put in classes and situations where writing is almost mandatory. In the eighth grade, I was put into a journalism class where we talked about figurative language, grammar, and all the different types of writing. I hated it. This made no sense because at that time I was full of words, thoughts, and ideas. It would seem that maybe something like writing would come easily to me. But it didn’t, because I didn’t want it to. 

That whole year, I spent that journalism class turning in half-done work, staring at the clock, and doing just about anything other than my work. Fast forward to the start of  my senior year; I looked down at my schedule and saw the word “Journalism.” My heart skipped a beat. I automatically thought back to that class I took in eighth grade. I thought about the struggles and frustrations I went through just to get a passing grade. I immediately stood up and scanned the QR code on the board to make an appointment with my guidance counselor. I thought to myself, “There is no way I will be taking another class like the one I did before.” I wasn’t able to meet with my guidance counselor that same day, so I had to attend the class. As I sat there, I looked around and saw about ten people, maybe less. I thought to myself, “It looks like I’m not the only one who doesn’t like journalism.”

As the teacher explained that year’s curriculum, she mentioned the school newspaper. I always heard about school newspapers, and being a part of them just seemed like something out of a movie. When I was finally able to meet with my counselor and discuss my schedule, she said to me, “This is a good class; I think you should take it.” When I went home that day, I thought about the duties and responsibilities that would come with being a part of the school’s newspaper. I kept doubting myself, saying that whatever it was that I had to do, I would be bad at it, that I wasn’t a good writer, and that I shouldn’t try to be one. 

Again, I thought back to that journalism class in the eighth grade, where toward the end of the year we were given an assignment. We were assigned to write a letter to someone or something in hopes of receiving some sort of outcome from it. I chose to write to my mom. I wrote about our relationship and how I wanted it to be better. I remember just typing, not making a special plan or figuring out what I was going to say exactly. I just went for it. Once we were done, the teacher would call us up to her desk to read and revise with us. Once my teacher was done reading mine, she stopped, darted her eyes toward me, and just looked at me. I was expecting her to say that I was doing it wrong, that it made no sense, or that it was just not good at all, but she didn’t. She looked at me and said, “I think you’ve found your niche.” I thought to myself; “Niche? What does that mean?” Before I could say anything else, she said, “Personal narrative.” She explained how good it was and that she was proud of me. I honestly think that was one of the times I felt most proud of myself in school; remembering that moment gave me a boost of confidence for the journalism class. 

In journalism, although at times I was given topics I didn’t like or wasn’t interested in, being able to sound like myself and express myself through writing felt good. For those few paragraphs I wrote each time, I was able to sound like me. Growing up, I was the “class clown,” always loud, making people laugh, and having to have all the attention and eyes on me. At that time, I couldn’t express myself; I didn’t know how to. Today I am the complete opposite of that, and I still don’t know how to fully sound like me.

Journalism has opened my eyes to all of the different ways that I could be able to with writing. I am now able to open a document and begin writing about things based on the information I have collected. Instead of trying to make it sound like an encyclopedia, I can sound like me and maybe add a joke, a fact, or anything else that I want. I have taken the skills I have learned throughout this year’s class and have been able to apply them to my private writing.

I’m sure for anyone reading this,  there is something you do not like and have given up on because you feel like you won’t succeed. I’m writing this to tell you that you do not have to; all you can do is work to the best of your abilities. If your abilities aren’t that good, then strengthen them. You may not win every race, but that does not mean you can’t make it to the finish line. I hate writing, but journalism has taught me that you can find the good in things you do not enjoy. 

Journalism has taught me that you don’t have to like something to try your best at it. If you feel like you’re bad at something, do it anyway. If you think you will fail, do it anyway. You will still learn, and even if you don’t meet your expectations, you will know more than you did before you started. 

Journalism has taught me more than just writing articles; it has proven to me that I can do more than what I tell myself I can.