What a ride! I am both saddened and proud that the AYA experience has come to an end. These past four weeks have been transformative in ways I am still beginning to understand.
Where We Started
I vividly recall receiving the acceptance email for AYA in late April during lunch— a world far away from our current mid-July. For weeks prior to beginning the program, I worried if I would be able to make friends. Thankfully, I was able to meet some of the most diverse and interesting people I have ever known. I also had the privilege to network with professors, staff, and industry professionals who have reaffirmed my passion for pursuing journalism as a potential career option.
What went down?
AYA was full of firsts: during my first week in the program I rode the subway by myself for the first time (getting momentarily lost during the process— I learned multiple trains pass through the same side of the platform), produced photo essays, interviewed strangers in museums and libraries, sprained my ankle, ate at a college dining hall, studied in a college library, visited the fourth floor of Leavey Library (if you know, you know), anchored on a newscast, and so many more things.
This fourth week I produced a photo essay on bookstores and abandoned vs. new places. Although I don’t exactly have a specific piece of wisdom I learned from these two assignments, I definitely re-learned why I am doing journalism. Also, you don’t need the best equipment to produce a meaningful story.
What’d you think?
I am proud to call myself an AYA alumnus. USC has become much more of a reality for my college journey now that I have met professors and students, who have all proven to be passionate and dedicated to their fields, specifically communications, journalism, and representing the communities around them.
I am really struggling to put into words how much I’ve enjoyed this experience, but I will say that it has made me more confident in my abilities as a student journalist and has demystified a lot of the college application process for me— it is possible to become a part of places like USC despite not having all the resources. All students, particularly students of color, deserve to be a part of academic spaces that allow them to pursue their interests. Impostor syndrome may plague you otherwise, but invalidating your worth is an insult to your character and the efforts of all of those others who have helped you get to where you are, and those who look to you to realize they can do difficult things, too. Break the cycle of impostor syndrome.
This program has allowed me to experience a level of independence both terrifying and liberating, and it makes me excited for how much lies ahead, not just in higher education but in life (generally speaking). I have made some great friends in this program, and that is ultimately one of the things I am most grateful for.
If I were to talk to myself five weeks ago, I would say: be consistent in completing work and communicating— those two actions will carry you through AYA.
Thank you, sincerely
Before I go, I’d like to thank many of the people who made this experience so memorable. To Brittany and Karen, thank you for pouring so much effort into organizing and making sure this program was both fun, intensive, and informative.
To Dr. Lopez: thank you for asking us to speak our minds. To Professor Lopez: thank you for teaching us to advocate for ourselves.
To some of the many people and friends I met/made during the program: thank you for your humor, passion, and kindness. Keep in touch!
And to the rest of the wonderful cohort, thank you for making room 106 and AYA a safe space. I hope everyone realizes how insightful and kind you all are.
Finally, thank you so much to everyone involved in making this experience happen for all of us at AYA. This has been transformative in the best ways possible: I will cherish these short but chaotic four weeks for a very long while.
Ad astra per aspera
After this summer, I will enter junior year, which is infamously called “the toughest year” in high school, but we’ll see. The future is uncertain, and I wonder where we will all be a year from now (thriving, obviously).
This is not the end but rather an opening to something even better. Best of wishes to the AYA Class of ‘24, we’ll see each other around!
To anyone reading until the end: if you’re having doubts about anything you want to pursue: try it well. Don’t rob yourself of even the chance.
In typical Professor Allan voice-over fashion, this was Annenberg Youth Academy’s Fernando Leiva reporting from his desk in the San Fernando Valley.
Signing off (just briefly) with much love and care,
Fernando Leiva
Annenberg Youth Academy Class of 2024
Communicating Change 