What is my passion? This question has plagued me for years. I see others around me and it appears everyone has one or two things that they’re really good at. Whether it is dance, wake-boarding, or speech and debate team, almost everyone has some sort of promising direction in their lives.

I sometimes feel like a fish out of water while everyone is at athletic practice or drama rehearsal, and I am just home doing homework or writing for the Feather. I enjoy my job and going to community college as well as high school, but I would not say those are my passions. I also like hanging out with my friends, but that does not count either.

Maybe it is something obvious ? maybe it would bite me if it got any closer. Maybe my passion is journalism.

I have always been told I am a good writer, beginning in elementary school. I enjoyed creative writing until my sophomore year, when I transfered to FC from a large, public high school. I had never been on a school newspaper staff before, but it immediately clicked. This was home.

At first it wasn’t easy. I would get my articles back covered in red corrections. My editors were helping me, but at the time it felt like they did not like anything I produced. My pride went down the drain.

During year two things started looking up. Our editor-in-chief, Chelsea Joy, was very sensitive towards making everybody feel good, while still pushing us hard. Her hard work and dedication inspired me and I decided to work even harder this year than I did last year.

This summer, new editor-in-chief Suzanna Quiring and I went to New York City to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s summer journalism workshop where we took classes to further develop our writing abilities. I learned a lot from the classes about how to write interesting openings and keep the reader hooked. After winning an award for writing a column, I decided I would like to be opinions editor back here at the Feather.

School started back up quickly and before I knew it my head was spinning in a whirlwind of busyness. I still wanted to be an editor, but I now had competition: senior Ryan Swain. We both worked hard and had skill, but who would be appointed with the coveted title of opinions editor?

Ryan ended up taking the cake. However, to my surprise, adviser Greg Stobbe asked me to be features editor, and I could not have asked for a better position on staff. He also asked me to write a weekly column, and so is born Sessions with Sydney. This will become a place where I will express my perspective about my world every Friday morning. I am still developing my skills in this area, and I have many opportunities to learn and grow.

I intend to pursue writing in college as well. I would love to major in journalism, which I hope to use to get into law school. I might also write for the paper of whichever school I decide to attend.

For me, journalism is more than just a class – it is a lifelong skill I am developing. If I become an attorney like I plan on, I will need to know how to write well for my cases.

But attorneys are not the only people who need to know how to write. I really believe that everyone can benefit from learning to write well. I am so blessed to have opportunities such as being on the Feather staff.