To me, reading is like eating a piece of pie. The middle is always the best part. A story isn’t complete without a plot, just like pie isn’t complete without its fruity filling.
I often find myself having to explain what sparked my sudden interest in joining the newspaper. I am asked why, on top of all of my other responsibilities, I decided to add the school paper to the list. It took me a while to come up with an accurate response that didn’t involve my obsession with “Gilmore Girls.”
Truth be told, my interest WAS sparked after watching that show for the first time. I guess I was inspired by the aesthetic of journalism and less focused on its vitality. It wasn’t until a few meetings into my newspaper journey that I really fell in love with journalism.
I have always told people that the impact of my words on readers is one of the most rewarding parts of being a journalist. Those who take the time to read a news article aren’t just learning about the subject, but they’re learning about me as a writer and taking a piece of me along with them. My words have an impact on them and are capable of making real change. I think that’s pretty cool.
The only problem is that a lot of teenagers aren’t always looking to read the full story. They don’t take the time to read all 700 words but instead, skim the lede and closing paragraphs. I understand as a teenager myself that there are only so many hours in the day, but I know I will always take the time to read someone’s story.
This is where the pie analogy comes in. I have never been the kind of person to skip pages to get to the end or to give up after only a few pages. That’s the same as throwing out a solid piece of pie after one bite of the crust and missing out on the fruity filling.
Think of it this way: the information is the filling, and the lede and closing are the crusts, good but not as flavorful as the center grafs of an article.
My favorite thing about being on the staff is not reading or writing my own stories but reading the work of the peers I admire so much. I know that by taking the time to read their work, I am taking a piece of them with me, along with what they’ve taught me through their writing. I know I would want someone to read my work from start to finish, as I’ve spent the time researching and presenting the information as best as I can. I owe them the same.
Words need to be written and read, songs need to be sung and heard, and good pie needs to be appreciated. I chose to join the newspaper because there are things to be said, and no one should be afraid to say them. More importantly, there are voices that need to be heard, and I hope that the world gets to hear them.
So, if you’ve made it through this piece, I’ll leave you with a few words of advice: use your voice, use your words, and make them mean something…and don’t forget to eat really good pie everyone once in a while.
