It’s our second week of Annenberg Youth Academy, and I’m already so devastated knowing that we have two more weeks left. Time is going by so quickly. I have enjoyed every experience throughout these past two weeks, and I am more than ecstatic for the next few days.
This week, I applied to be an anchor for the Annenberg Youth Academy news. Anchoring has always been a lifelong dream of mine, and having the opportunity to pursue this dream was beyond exciting. Stepping into the studio for the first time was a surreal moment. I immediately felt a sense of belonging and knew this was where I could truly express myself.
Starting off, I was nervous but also filled with excitement. Being in the studio felt like home to me. The studio lights shining towards me and reading my lines from the teleprompter made me feel more at ease than ever. It was obvious that I would mess up, especially considering how nervous I was. There were multiple times when I tried to scroll down the screen and accidentally switched to the home screen. I even found out that I was slowly positioning my body more to the left throughout the video, which I didn’t even notice myself. This was justified through the statement that the chairs were built for college students, not for highschoolers, which I found pretty funny. There were even multiple times where I mispronounced words. This was quickly fixed with the support of Professor Lopez and the media cast. They helped me feel more confident and comfortable through their amazing advice and overall support.
I was initially concerned about the numerous lines I would have to deliver, including some that my small group made that sounded cheesy. More specifically, ”Craving a banana? Well, ”Despicable Me 4” is returning to the big screen, just in time for Independence Day.” However, after saying it for the first time, I found that I unexpectedly enjoyed delivering the line, feeling more like a news reporter each time, I said it. I embraced the opportunity presented to me. Overall, the content we produced through this production was truly exceptional. We managed to shine a light on important issues and provide entertainment that is relevant and valuable for our young community such as the Los Angeles Unified District ban of cellphones, rise of wildfires due to high temperature, and renovations on Union Station. I cannot wait to see the final product next week.
”Thanks for watching Annenberg Youth Academy News!” Seeing these final words on the teleprompter, made me feel so accomplished. I was taught persistence, commitment, and patience throughout the production process, especially because it took more than one time to film. The journey of being an anchor was more than I could ever have imagined, I can’t wait for a lifetime filled of broadcast journalism.
This program has enabled me to fulfill more of my dreams than I could have ever believed. Within the first two weeks, we have already accomplished so much as a collective. I have experienced life as a college student, always getting coffee in the morning, of course, while also building friendships with amazing people. Everyone is so goal-oriented, and I know each and every one of them will do something amazing in life. Stay tuned for next week’s journal filled with experiences! Can’t wait to see my Trojan family again!
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Written by: Allison Chavez
Communicating Change 