Commentary: End of year wrap-up

I don’t believe anything happens due to “coincidence.” I refuse to think that a God that so meticulously planned the creation of the universe leaves things in our life for no reason. Every day, every lesson we learn serves a purpose.

Over time spent in journalism, I have experienced so much. From writing day to day, to traveling across the State to do interviews and met people, I’ve created so many memories I will never be able to remember them all.

Most of my favorite memories come from the assignments in which I had to ‘travel’. Restaurant reviews were always something I loved. Walking into a restaurant with a camera around your neck, talking with business owners and sampling the chef’s specials are only a few of the times I fondly recall. I enjoyed conferences we traveled to just as much.

Spending time with friends in a hotel really lets you bond and grow closer to people who you may work with and see every day, but never really know. Though I never had the privilege to travel to New York, I am very grateful to my parents for allowing me to take the time to visit the west coast NSPA conferences both my freshman and senior year.

It is amazing to look back on how much I have experienced personal growth throughout my years in journalism. Writing truly frees the soul, and allows people to more meticulously express themselves. Whether it’s on pen and paper or in a day-to-day conversation, constantly writing and reporting increases one’s vocabulary and communication skills tenfold.

To any student thinking about joining journalism, I would encourage you to try it out. Not everyone is made to be a journalist. Some people will love it, and others will hate it. But you never know unless you try. I would encourage students to give it at least one semester to see if it’s a good fit or not. At first the workload will undoubtedly seem overwhelming, but after you get used to it you get into a rhythm. You find tricks that make you write faster, you get more comfortable talking with strangers. If you do enjoy journalism and choose to continue with it, give it all you’ve got.

There was an old T.V. commercial I once saw, I can’t even remember what it was for. In it, a person talking said, “If you’re going to do something, why not do it with your whole heart?” This resonated with me a great deal. No matter what you’re passionate about, it is up to us as individuals to cultivate our interests into feasible futures. If you enjoy journalism, write as much as possible. Then when the day comes that you apply to a news station, you will be so used to that type of environment you can fit right in. If you love playing a sport, practice so much when the scouts come watch a game they can’t help but notice you.

To address the elephant in the room, adviser Greg Stobbe is not as bad as people make him sound. As long as you play your role on the team, he will let you explore whatever your interests are. From the day I joined journalism, I told Mr. Stobbe I would never write a sports article. I love playing and watching sports, but I have no desire to report about them. To this day I have never written a sports article. And that’s fine, because that’s not what role I play on the team. I am a reviewer. I am a Town Hall reporter. I am the guy who thinks up Fun Facts and weekly polls. Be who you were made to be.

I would like to thank my fellow staffers throughout my time spent in journalism. Your camaraderie and encouragement along the way made the journey what it was. I would like to thank our fantastic Editor’s-in Chief who work extremely diligently to make sure articles are running every day. Our photo and video team led by Mrs. (Kori) Friesen is second to none. Thank you to every writer; whether you published 12 articles or six. You have contributed to our team’s success.

Lastly, thank you to Greg Stobbe. The only reason a team is consistently the best is because of good coaching. Throughout the years you’ve poured your passion for writing into countless students. Thank you for ‘recruiting’ me to join the team way back when. When I was an sub-par writer with no journalism experience or passion, you saw my potential. Thank you.

Justin Houts will be attending California State University Fresno in the Fall semester. He will also be enrolling in the Army ROTC program, while studying Criminology.

For another senior reflection, Senior reflection: Tyler Breedlove.