How does a school grow? How does it improve? Where should it even begin? The answer lies in the students and the student body itself. They serve as the foundation of the school, the bedrock, without them it falls apart.

Some might say a proper administration takes priority, or massive financial backing, or intelligent staff and teachers. Though these things are important and incredible assets to have, they still cannot create the change a unified and determined student body can.

Palo Alto High School and their online daily newspaper, The Paly Voice, demonstrate that the students are the source of change in their school and community. The journalism program at Palo Alto recently received millions of  dollars to build a digital media center on their campus. This was brought about by the undeniable excellence of their students, their adviser and a community measure that supported the vision.

Through the students’ ability and excellence they were able to raise enough community funds (school bond or otherwise) to finance their new building. Though they raised the funds through the community, that would have been an impossible endeavor without the students showing them their passion.

The Paly Voice provides an outlet for the school and community and local areas to become news headlines everywhere. It only takes one part of a community to flourish, and this in turn helps increase the moral and pride for the rest of the city. However, The Paly’s level of fame and excellence can be achieved by other students and other programs, as long as they put forward the necessary excellence.

For instance, The Feather itself has won national awards; multiple CSPA Gold Crowns and Pacemakers line the walls of the tiny lab. The Feather created an amazing legacy, a legacy that becomes increasingly harder to surpass each year. And though the staff did not win the NSPA Pacemaker last year, staffers still have the same potential as those who passionately worked before them.

I urge The Feather, it’s staff and the campus community to remember its legacy and dig into the untapped potential it possesses. Let’s join together, rally our community to back our school as we compete in academics, sports, music and the arts, and engage with the Feather in campus news. The Feather is back, but we need your help to address issues, cover campus and community activities and support each other. Please consider joining us in this worthy endeavor to tell our story of Fresno Christian in the community.

Follow The Feather via Twitter @thefeather,  Instagram @thefeatheronline and Facebook @thefeatheronline. This writer can be reached via Twitter: @RRoggenstein.