When I started high school, I took the words “get involved”, spoken to us by every administrator and teacher, extremely seriously. I joined twelve clubs during my freshman year, all of which were held virtually, and most of which I abandoned after the ease of online clubs, realizing they were more commitment than they were worth.
Three programs stuck with me though: speech and debate, marching band, and Panther Press. Speech and debate and marching band were for leadership skills and college applications, truthfully, but I stayed with Panther Press because of the connections.
I started Panther Press because I was convinced that I wanted a career in journalism, and even when I decided that wasn’t what I wanted, Panther Press was still an outlet for me: I became interested in sports, even as someone severely unathletic, and made connections with people in every grade, in every sport. I am sure this would not have been possible without the community created by the Panther Press. This club pulled me out of my shell and catalyzed conversations I had never thought possible.
The opportunities provided by Panther Press are unlimited, the community is unparalleled, and the importance of journalism is ever-increasing, even in a society where journalism is seemingly dying. There is truly no other extracurricular in which you can explore your passions in such a way that they impact others, and no better way to amplify student voices.
I am endlessly proud of the work I have done, and that my editors have done, to paint a picture of Strath Haven in which everyone is represented and valued. To anyone reading this column who is unsure of where they belong in high school: you will always belong in room 223.
