It has been said that time flies when you are having fun. As for my time here at FC and specifically in journalism, time sure has flown. My time here is about to come to a close, but I realize that the experiences I gained here have helped to shape me into the person I am to become.

When I came to FC during the middle of my sophomore year, I did not know what to expect. What I found was a positive atmosphere with teachers that cared and students who genuinely seemed interested in getting to know me.

Due to a scheduling conflict, I was placed in journalism during my junior year. I did not like the prospect of having to write so much, but I decided that I was going to stick it through. Being forced to take journalism ended up being one of the better things that has happened to me during my high school career.

Once in the class, adviser Greg Stobbe began to teach me about the process of putting together a paper. I realized the process was fascinating and I discovered that I enjoyed writing for the paper. Repeatedly writing articles has taught me how to become a better writer while learning how to be a reporter through interviewing others.

The journalistic process really came alive for me during a recent trip to New York City for a conference at Columbia University. Interacting with professional journalists provided me with more in-depth knowledge I can use in the future.

During the past two and a half years spent on campus, the school has helped me to grow spiritually and academically, making it the most memorable time in my life. The atmosphere provided by the teachers and students have made my high school experience much better than ever imagined.