Months have passed since former Knight Life reporters finished high school with the Class of 2024. Although they’re no longer part of the newspaper staff, these students have continued to use skills learned from journalistic practice in life outside of high school.
“I gained skills of human connectivity and being able to communicate with my peers,” Isabella Figueroa, a former chief copy editor and current journalism major at Michigan State University said. “It’s a really unique thing in the classroom: to be able to critique, edit and criticize your peers, and try to do it in a kind way.”
One of the classes Figueroa is currently taking is the ‘World of Media’ course, which helps students learn more about the reporting process. She’s also reported on environmental assistance and conservation in other U.S. states in another publication.
“I’m a part of the Great Lakes Echo, which is a publication that’s based on the environment and conservation in all the states that touch the Great Lakes,” Figueroa said. “Right now, I’m writing an article about how students from Wisconsin and Michigan won a grant to help environmentalism.”
College offers more in-depth exploration of journalism compared to high school, giving students more opportunities to gain real-world experience.
Former web editor Ender Ross is currently a computer science major at Michigan Technological University. He’s continued his interest in journalism by writing for the entertainment department of his school’s newspaper, The Lode.
“I do the satire newspaper, which is more of a blog than a cohesive satire news site,” Ross said. “Everything requires more commitment than it did in high school, so you really have to attend meetings and do things.”
Ross thinks that college isn’t more challenging than high school, as long as one puts in the effort to stay ahead in their studies.
“College doesn’t take up more time than high school, but it takes up your time. I have to spend a lot more time doing homework,” Ross said. “You have to make it as easy as high school. If you do that, it’s no more difficult.”
When students have prior experience publishing their writing, it gives them more confidence in the future, even in non-journalism courses.
“I feel much more confident in my writing classes in college, as a result of the work I took on for three years on Knight Life,” Josephine Velo, former executive director and current English and psychology major at the University of Michigan said. “I’m also currently in training to be a news writer for The Michigan Daily. So far, I feel prepared and empowered from my past high school experience.”
Now that she’s in college, Velo is extremely grateful for the opportunities she had in high school, especially as a part of Knight Life.
“Don’t limit yourself, or box yourself in,” Velo said. “There’s so much to learn in the classroom, and everyone around you is so smart and probably has their own niche knowledge that you should ask about. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of those around you, as well as those in power.”
