A main concept that I took away from week three at Annenberg Youth Academy, is the value of Identity. Identity has been bonded over in multiple instances, for example the Chicano movement, which we learned about. On another note, our AYA alumni came to talk to our AYA, and they touched on the idea of identity as well. What resonated with me was their emphasis on being yourself, and staying grounded in your identity, not changing who you are for other people. I feel like they hit the nail on the head, highlighting their struggles with confidence and self-esteem. Many teens, including myself, have struggled to find confidence due to the exhausting comparison internalized through social media. Hearing from accomplished alumni who went through the same thing as me was inspiring, and reassured me that I wasn’t alone.
One alumnus talked about how she failed her first semester at UCLA, but she got back up and persevered, getting all As the following semester. I connected with this story because I need to understand that my worst grade does not define me. What defines me is how fast and how strong I can come back. This inspired me for next year, but also gave me a reality check and let me know that my success is contingent upon my motivation and how much I want it.
I also really enjoyed how each of the guest speakers shed light on how everyone’s journey is different. Not everyone who participated in the program got into USC, which they noted was disappointing, but necessary to get to where they are now. This taught me that everyone is on a different path, and there isn’t just one path to success.
While week three was a brief three days, I enjoyed putting together a newscast and being in the studio. Every week our team improves, and seeing our group grow together has been inspiring to observe. In addition, our journalism course has pushed me to think about journalism in a way that is applicable and practical for making change within my community. This week, we brainstormed ideas for solutions journalism and were given cameras to supply pictures for our upcoming photo essay.
This week was also the end of our in-class facilitation discussions, which I was disappointed to see go so soon. I love when we get to come together as a class and apply the lessons taught in class to a live discussion. Everyone in the room is exceedingly intelligent and always has something thoughtful to say. An unpopular opinion of mine is I like it when our group disagrees. I feel like if our group agreed all the time then nobody would ever change their mind or learn. I love when someone has a different perspective than me because it helps me open my mind to a concept I hadn’t thought of previously. It is also how I grow as a student and person.
Communicating Change 