I fixed my gaze upon Rory Gilmore, her perfect brown hair and lively doe eyes. The little similarities in her appearance, music taste and appreciation for food only made her resonate with me more. She talked passionately about the newspaper, the late nights, the editing, the writing.
As a more introverted — and frankly extremely awkward — 13-year-old, I felt connected to this TV character, admiring how she found a subject that allowed her to break out of her shell.
I needed to do the same, find something that I could use to explore a new world of people and ideas instead of merely putting in my headphones and listening to music to get through the day.
Driven by this thirst for discovery, I decided to follow in Rory’s footsteps, and I enrolled in journalism classes at Fullerton College in eighth grade, eager to explore the world of media and find my own voice.
I found a means of expression and a love for journalism as I learned its history and its clear-cut rules.
I discovered how much more eloquent I was through a faceless screen where I could easily type up my words without the unbeatable, recurring anxiety of saying something wrong.
When I started high school, I registered for Journalism 1. Soon realizing that newspaper production was harder than I anticipated and much different than the classes at the community college, I reconsidered my goals to join the staff.
Pro/Con list after Pro/Con list, I came to the decision to apply and became the only underclassman section editor that year, working in the Feature section to produce truly unique stories. I was enamored by the sense of responsibility that I was given.
Spending an inordinate amount of time refining my skills, I found my niche in creative ledes and developed reporting using my own voice to relay events to readers.
Journalism became my world instead of music, and with each new source I interviewed, I saw my nervous habits of shaky hands and a racing heartbeat dissipate. I realized I not only found a love for writing but also for meeting new people and hearing their stories.
On top of that, I found a loving community within The Accolade that I spent hours upon hours working with.
By the end of my sophomore year, I could confidently get through an interview without stuttering, and by the end of my junior year, I genuinely looked forward to meeting with the next interviewee.
Now I stand in a similar position to Rory, as editor-in-chief of The Accolade. I am proud to see how I have continued this passion — from a nervous writer to a confident speaker. And while some may still see me as the most awkward person out there (because I really still am at times), at least I have found a way to push past my introverted tendencies and to become successful in my journalism career.
