As the new year begins and my time at SJHHS draws to a close, I have been reflecting on high school as part of the college essay process. This writing task led me to discover what it is that drives me and how I can make something more out of my future based on my time here in high school. Without hesitation, I can say that my position as Editor-in-Chief at the Express Newspaper has changed my views on the future that’s in store for me. These three years of involvement have led me to gain many writing, photography and computer skills; however, the most important thing I have acquired from this class is my love for journalism.

Writing has always been my forte, but now journalism is my focus, and without the experiences the newspaper course provided me with, I would never have considered pursuing a journalistic career.

Over the three years I’ve spent with The Express I’ve seen it grow from a black and white newspaper to a color newspaper. We also launched our own website, updated weekly by news teams who practice their journalistic and photo journalistic skills in a more 21st Century way. In this transition, I have found myself feeling more comfortable and better equipped for what a career in journalism would be like in this digital age.

Now it’s time for me to move on to college and career. But what about The Express? Who will be its next Editor? What changes will they bring to the newspaper? With the advancements I have seen during my time here, I can only imagine what the course could be in the future with the contributions and ideas of dedicated new staff members.

Students interested in writing, photography and digital design, should consider taking this course and becoming part of the future of The Express. It keeps you involved in the life of the school, teaches you about responsibility and leadership and gives you real-world experiences in working with others managing a project and publishing awareness of news to the community.

Overall, the newspaper here has not only given me an opportunity to expand skills and abilities in writing and editing, but also has enabled me to reach my fullest potential as a student journalist.