OPINION
OPINION
Putting my thoughts out there for everyone to see has been one of the scariest yet rewarding things I have ever done.
Opinion stories and personal columns are only as strong as their reasoning, and it is something I strive to excel in with every piece I produce in the category. Since The Bridge staff does not have a designated opinion editor this year, I assumed the role of the section’s editor on top of my editor-in-chief duties. One thing I try to do while managing the section is not only encourage staffers to be bold in expressing feelings but to build a strong foundation of reason to put their feelings on a higher pedestal. I try to lead by example by doing the same.
OPEN LETTER TO EDUCATION SYSTEM
For high school students, junior year is known as the hardest one to tackle. The amount of college level classes, homework and stress imposed on a student stands at an all-time high. During my junior year, the frustrations I had with the way public education operated began piling up. Those in charge seemed to only care about statistics instead of the sentiments of students, which only adds to the emotional stress a teenager goes through. I decided to write a personal column addressing public education’s failure to truly ready young adults for the outside world.
PROFESSIONAL WORK
A CALL FOR CHANGE
Mental health is something I’ve always advocated for in all aspects of my life, as I acknowledge my own personal journey with it. I’ve written about it, wear a green ribbon on my softball helmet and try to be a resource for those struggling with their lives. All that said, when I received word that James Madison softball player Lauren Bernett took her own life, I knew it was time someone spoke up about the recent string of suicides in collegiate athletes. I recognize my individual effort is only a small piece of the puzzle, but starting a conversation is what puts change in motion. Click here to see it published, but use the button to read the story.
CRASH COURSE
In 2021, a video lesson addressing implicit bias was unable to be shown to Bridgeland students due to the volume of parents’ negative reaction. In its place, teachers were tasked with opening up discussion among students so they could share personal experiences and thoughts on the topic. Around school, all I heard was how the prompted discussion was awkward. No one in their class felt comfortable talking. I felt this trend of silence raised a bigger issue on how the next generation of adults didn’t feel safe communicating with each other on controversial topics. I wrote a piece discussing how having these tough discussions now in a school setting is the first step to improving the way society can handle discourse.
The More You Know
What I’ve learned from opinion/personal column reporting and writing
To craft a writing style unique to me
To provide solid reasoning for the way I feel
How to demonstrate different tones