Every story that begins must also continue its development. My second week at the Anneberg Youth Academy is no longer at its starting point—it’s in the middle. This placement of my narrative design has required a much more challenging level of engagement from me. Everything about this program is escalating and building momentum as the days progress. Deadlines are slowly approaching, workloads are increasing, and what looms constantly over your head is the fear of failure. If week one at AYA was my orientation, then week two is my midterms—the point where stress and intensity are no longer indistinguishable. But what has motivated me throughout these difficult obstacles is one singular thing—my commitment to COMM 101 and JOUR 101. This journey of being a civic journalist is by no means easy, but I am dedicated to the work I put in each day. I strive to move forward on the intricate path I’m currently on, bracing myself for however many tests it takes to see this through to the end.
As in the previous week, I began writing week two when I entered USC’s Anneberg building on Monday. There wasn’t a feeling of unfamiliarity with the space I was in. I knew both my professors, most of my classmates, and what my workload would be like. Well, for the most part. JOUR 101 taught by Professor Allan Lopez had our class interacting with the field of journalism on a much higher level. My Vox Pop was my very first step into the profession of storytelling—how I could shape narratives from the ground up. But this week evolved, transitioning me into more advanced media such as broadcasting and podcasts. Professor Allan had us choose our news topics and we began to build on our interviews at USC’s Annenberg Media Center in their recording studios. The entire process terrified me—by how much fun I had with it. I had the amazing opportunity to be the lead host for our podcast show, with the process showing me how to direct conversation and step into my voice with confidence. What I’ve noticed so far in my story is how complex everything is at the midpoint. But, I’ve also noticed that everything becomes more real here, too.
I can’t talk about my week’s narrative structure without including COMM 101. Professor Rogelio Lopez had our class schedule lined up with guest speakers, readings, and even podcasts that helped us think critically about the representation present in the messages we write and consume. A podcast episode titled This American Life’s “Three Miles” by Chana Joffe-Walt stuck out to me in our lessons because of its deeply personal storytelling. Joffe-Walt produced this episode of the podcast to be centered around the idea of class and inequality. The main story follows students in an exchange program, and them being from two different schooling backgrounds—poor and elite. The episode itself was very revealing and addressed the hard truths of systemic inequality between these two groups. What I loved most about the podcast was how Joffe-Walt used the voices of the unheard to power her messaging. The inclusion of students who were a part of the exchange program, such as Melanie, a student from the poorer school, reveals the unseen dynamic of how the education system is geared toward only those coming from privilege. I took great inspiration from this podcast on how I could communicate my civil topics, and with our upcoming group projects being very close to their due date, I feel confident that I have a strong grasp on the language and tone I’ll use for a valuable discussion.
Overall, the midpoint of my journey here at AYA has been truly remarkable. I’m seething with anticipation to get past the most climactic moments of this program, and I’m becoming more hopeful that the end of my story here will have changed my life for the better.
Communicating Change 