When I signed up for The Feather team this year, I had no idea what I was in for. At that moment, I had signed up for a year of growth, hard work, and hundreds of new experiences. In the beginning, I did not intend to take a single picture and was generally uninterested in photography. After planning on spending another year writing articles, learning that I would be taking photos instead was a shock. Needless to say, from never having held a camera to where I am now, I’ve learned a lot.

I learned how to adjust the settings of a camera to properly fit the lighting or the event and even how to choose the correct camera and lens depending on what I’m shooting. Although I have a lot to learn, I’ve become much more familiar with a camera in my hands. Aside from this, my efficiency in writing, editing, and posting has grown immensely.

This year, I’ve been impacted personally by the workload. Although writing and shooting one photo post a week sounds like a light task, it’s taught me how to manage my time better than any class. This year has pushed me to handle a consistent workload without cracking under pressure. Professionally, my writing skills have improved dramatically and my typing is much faster. With what I have learned in the field of photography and journalism, I will easily be able to integrate my skills into many job positions.

A piece of encouragement I would give to future Feather journalists is that everything you learn in The Feather has a purpose. It’s all worth it, so don’t give up when it gets hard. Persisting through constant pressure was one of the best things I could have done for myself. You benefit from every minor skill you are taught, no matter how redundant and pointless it may seem. Taking The Feather isn’t easy, but nothing worth doing in life comes without hard work and perseverance.

I would love to thank my incredible advisors Greg Stobbe and Kori James for believing in me and helping me grow. In my first year of The Feather, I knew next to nothing about writing. It was thanks to Stobbe that I am where I am today in my writing skills and efficiency. If it hadn’t been for his teaching and belief in me, I may never have joined The Feather.

This year, I had the opportunity to work with James for photojournalism. She pushed me to my limits as no other teacher had. She saw what I was capable of and knew what to do. I’ve grown more this year than I ever have in my whole life. Although it was difficult, it was worth it. I don’t think I will ever have a teacher who teaches me the amount of light and joy that she teaches with, and I would like to thank her for that.

For more Feather Photos, visit The Feather media page.

Photography journey and progress slideshow

Gallery • 10 Photos