Attending James Madison University
When I walked onto the cement of Commack High School on the first day of freshman year, I never could anticipate its impact on me. The teachers that I connected with, I will never forget. I have also made lifelong friends throughout my four years in this school. I enjoyed the Cross Country team, Track team, clubs, honor societies, my internship, and all the laughs, smiles, and deep thoughts throughout classes.
When I was younger, I wrote many fiction stories and poems. I created videos, loved sharing my life outlook through art, and created my own music. Throughout my childhood and into adulthood, I was a student with a very creative mind. In high school, joining The Courant was a no-brainer as I love writing and creating media. I even recruited friends into The Courant to share the glory of The Courant. Journalism was a style I had never tried before, and I liked the excitement of trying out a new form of writing. Once I began writing stories, I realized how many different types of people I must interview to create a well-rounded story. This I feared because I am a very reserved person. Eventually, I interviewed people out of my comfort zone and in a social group. I realized that I loved interviewing people and learning about diverse opinions throughout my school. I loved The Courant so much that I wrote stories over the summer and extra stories during the year. The Courant has changed me, and I will forever be grateful for the club.
I especially appreciate the inspirational and motivating mentor that I’ve had, Mrs. Semple. I never had Mrs. Semple as my English teacher, but I quickly connected with her through The Courant. She always says, “The better the sources, the better the story.” I will always hear Mrs. Semple’s voice in my head stating these words when interviewing others. As one who would like to write magazine articles in the future, I greatly appreciate Mrs. Semple’s lessons. In fact, this summer, I will try my best to publish a children’s book that Mrs. Semple was so kind to check over and guide me. I would not have so easily found my passion for journalism and media arts if it were not for her. Ultimately, I believe that everyone I form a relationship with will lead me in the direction I am meant to be in and create my current and future self. Thank you, Mrs. Semple, for your hard work towards this club and your students.
I also enjoyed Mr. Zaidinski’s IB psychology class, but as many students call him, Z. I learned many different research methods and famous psychologists in history. Z always knew how to bring a smile to the student’s faces during stressful days. He never failed to make me laugh and enjoys the little things in life. One of his sayings was “peace and love and peace.” During Z’s class, my interest in research/science and writing were brought together, and my two worlds collided. I began writing psychology stories for The Courant. Thank you, Z, for the jokes. I hope to live my life like Mr. Zaidinski.
In college, I will pursue dietetics, media arts, and design at James Madison University, with a concentration in journalism. I plan to get my PhD in dietetics eventually. I hope to spread the word about a healthy lifestyle to the world through journalism. As one with a double major, I understand that It will be challenging, but with the inspiration of Mrs. Semple’s success, I can shoot for the stars. It is now time to end my story at Commack High School, but I will forever cherish the experiences I have gained. Ava, managing editor, signing out. ◼️
