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Writing

When I first took journalism, it was because I loved writing. It is the one craft in life that has truly come naturally to me. And being able to continue to write as I have moved up The Journal hierarchy and teach this art to my fellow staffers is something I will always cherish. 

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Every story starts with an idea

Each of the three years I worked on the Journal, I kept a list of story ideas. I was responsible for keeping in touch with my beats and from those, forming ideas for stories. I also kept an "Oh no you DIH-ent!" list. These ideas are formed by the keen ears I've developed from being on the Journal. They are stories that students and everyday people are discussing that I've realized the importance in needing them covered. 

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Features Writing

One of my favorite pieces I’ve written was the centerfold for Issue 7 my sophomore year. Its focus was on high school relationships and their value in the end. I interviewed a therapist and reported the nitty-gritty parts of various teachers’ and students' high school love stories. This story appealed to most any reader and was light-hearted while still staying relevant, as it came out only a day after Valentine’s Day. 

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Column Writing

This year my adviser pushed me to be the columnist for The Journal. Although I was hesitant at first, it has really pushed me to better understand the world around me and oftentimes challenged me to reevaluate my personal worldview. Sharing such grand opinions in a newsmagazine that has upwards of 2,000 readers is nothing short of intimidating. But I am beyond happy to say that writing “The Valadez View” has been one of my favorite parts of my senior year and has produced some of my best work.

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Review Writing

When I was a sophomore, the entertainment section wanted someone to write a review for the movie “The Hate U Give,” which was based off of Angie Thomas’s novel of the same title. I remember jumping on the opportunity because I so badly wanted to read the book and watch the movie. So, I did just that. I wrote a review of the book and movie, and ultimately decided that the book was superior. This was the second time I was able to express my opinion through The Journal, and it was a great feeling to spread my love for books with readers. 

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