Journalism has transformed my life in more ways than I would have ever thought possible. It has molded me into a more confident, responsible and hard-working individual. Over the past three years working for The Feather, I have faced mental, emotional and spiritual challenges that have pushed me outside my comfort zone and have helped me develop a new perspective on life.

To be honest, my first semester in journalism was one of the most intimidating times in my life. It took me about two weeks to even complete my first article. But it wasn’t just writing articles that soon became overwhelming. On top of trying to figure out how to write articles, I was given the task of publishing Quote ‘o the Day and writing girls’ basketball sports shorts!

Though my role as a Feather staffer was daunting at first, looking back, I would not change a thing. While sitting at the awards ceremony during the conference in San Francisco this year, I realized that the last three years of my high school career have been filled with so many great memories in journalism.

I was able to travel to Anaheim one year, New York City for two years, and all around the Fresno/Clovis area, all for journalism. Each of these trips and events provided me with experiences that not only allowed me to build stronger relationships with my peers, but also gave me the opportunity to interview and discover the life-stories that each person possesses.

All of the time I have spent pouring myself into The Feather has not been a burden but an amazing journey of growth. Receiving awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) just made my experience in journalism so much sweeter.

A majority of people at school believe that the students in journalism “sell” their souls to [Greg] Stobbe. Honestly? It’s true…just kidding! No, but really, being in journalism is a choice, so everyone that ends up staying on staff truly does want to be in journalism. In all seriousness, The Feather is something that I chose to stick with because I loved being a part of something that required passion, hard work and a willing attitude to find entertainment in anything.

The Feather holds a rich history in the amount and quality of work produced every day, and I consider it a great privilege to be on this staff. Without the editors and staff writers that were before me, I would not have the motivation to carry on what they left off. Though it is a student-run newspaper, one of the main reasons that I became so involved with this publication was because of Stobbe, who inspired me to strive for my best potential.

I can still remember walking into Stobbe’s freshman English class. My heart was pounding and I had no clue what to expect from this teacher I had heard so much about. Despite how hard his class was in the beginning, I soon grew to enjoy attending his class and getting to know him not only as a teacher, but as a person.

Stobbe has been a great mentor for my work ethic and has motivated me to always strive for more than what is asked. One of his famous quotes here at FC is, “Reasons are excuses, make today a reason for success!” I have learned to not work my way out of difficult situations but to take them head on, allowing myself to grow during the process.

Along with Stobbe motivating me to work hard in journalism, the relationships that I have formed through The Feather have been an integral part of my high school experience. Everyday I have had the chance to work alongside peers who share the desire to give their best efforts, and who give me daily encouragement.

While the editors and I have spent a vast amount of hours working on articles, videos, podcasts, blogs, and pictures, it was through these long periods of time that I was able to grow closer to them. Many of the days spent in the journalism lab were full of laughter and just flat out entertainment. We would sing, dance, make fun of each other and somewhere in there, publish new material on The Feather.

As I reflect on my time at FC, I cannot help but think about how much The Feather has affected my life. I have been able to write stories about others, and also share who I am through various outlets of the newspaper. Although I will be leaving this paper, I will continue to utilize the lessons I have learned while at this school and will cherish all the memories I have with these amazing people.

This time in my life is coming to a close, but I look forward to what God has in store for me. I feel so blessed and thankful that I was able to attend high school at Fresno Christian. This community has encouraged me to follow my passions, and has equipped me to go into the world and live my life with confidence in Christ. I cannot thank everyone enough who has poured themselves into me, whether directly or indirectly.

I thank the Lord so much for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this newspaper and I will forever be impacted by the experiences of working for The Feather Online.

Maddie will be attending the Joshua Wilderness Institute at Hume Lake Christian Camp for one year, followed by a four year university where she will major in psychology or behavioral science.

This writer can be reached via Twitter: @madeleineyee. Follow The Feather via Twitter: @thefeather.

For more opinions, read the April 25 article, Melendez attends select USD preview, confirms college choice.