Maddie Harris

I took my very first journalism class ever in 11th grade. After being told all of my life that I was a good writer, I figured “why not.” The first day I sat in Mr. Morris’s Honors Journalism class, I wanted to quit. Right then and there, I was planning a trip to the counselor to drop the class. I think I actually texted my mom and said something along the lines of “there’s no way I am doing this.” When he said he wanted five articles a quarter from us I was, to put it lightly, flabbergasted. Yet here I am, after being one of the editors of The Uproar and heading to college for journalism, I am so glad I did not quit. Often, I believe people shy away from tasks before actually giving them a shot, myself included. My biggest takeaway from NASH was the fact that you need to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. If I would have quit, I never would have realized my full potential and develop such a love for writing as I have now.

I am not saying that you all need to take journalism, although I do recommend it. What I am saying is to take the risk and challenge yourself. Do not shy away from something before even trying it. Life is full of new experiences; don’t let them pass you by. You will realize you are so much more capable than you could have imagined.