I officially joined The Feather during the 2019-20 school year as I transitioned into my sophomore year at Fresno Christian. The Feather had been introduced to me before my life at FCS. I grew up hearing about The Feather from family members who were involved with the program. My passion and curiosity for photography increased and that was when I decided to join the team.
This is my second year as a photojournalist and I’ve faced obstacles that set apart this year from the previous one. I am one of the few veterans on the team, let alone the only returning photojournalist, so I’ve taken on a leadership role to mentor newcomers. Initially this was source of frustration for me and a bit overwhelming, but I have since grown to enjoy serving in this capacity.
Even as a returning photojournalist, there are many things that I’ve learned this year. I’ve become more time efficient with editing and writing posts. Last year, it would take me several days to write a photopost, but now I can write it in one class period. Writing now comes easier for me and it helps benefit my other classes. I’ve also gained confidence in evaluating the quality of my photos and writing.
One piece of encouragement that I would like to give to other photojournalists is to focus on the positives. Sometimes it’s easy to become overwhelmed with tasks, but think of all the opportunities you are getting. I am learning skills that I can use throughout all my life. A goal I set for myself this year was “I get to take photos ” rather than “I have to take photos.”
I’d like to give a special thank you to my caring advisers, Kori James and Greg Stobbe! You both never fail to amaze me with your talents. You continue to show patience and pride to this team and myself. I can’t thank you both enough for all that you do! You both are such a blessing in my life!
I’m so grateful to be apart of this team and all the knowledge and opportunities this experience has brought me!
For more Feather photos, visit media, photos 2020-21.