Week two at AYA was all about hands-on experiences. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be Envisionment. Walking into the Annenberg building on Monday, I felt excited and grateful like I was living a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We were welcomed by Charlene Riofrio, Senior Manager of Digital Strategy and Operations at FOX Deportes. She shared how her passion for sports led her into journalism and how social media helped her shape a unique role in the industry. Her biggest advice was to always find ways to network. That stuck with me after all, it was through a connection that I even found out about AYA. Without it, I wouldn’t be here.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, we had a total of five guest speakers between both classes. In Comms 101, USC admission counselors came to talk to us about the process of applying to USC. This helped answer some of the questions I had. It made me actually envision myself going to USC. I felt like I had a real chance of getting in. The counselor explained that the admissions process is holistic. It isn’t solely based on grades or test scores, which gave me hope for applying next year.
In Journalism 101, we had two guest speakers. One of them encouraged us to submit to a short film contest. The winner could earn up to $2,000. This was interesting to hear about. The second speaker was a bit more engaging. Professor Allan had us silently interview him, which I found intriguing. A silent interview is an exercise where you observe someone. You try to figure out details about them just by how they look or present themselves. For example, their style, expression, body language, etc. Later, he spoke to us about graduate school, which gave me a broader view of college. Up until that point, I had only been focused on undergrad.
Wednesday
On Wednesday during Journalism 101, we got our first taste of the extravagant world of radio. We visited the newer Annenberg building, which was massive both inside and out. We entered a study room where each person practiced two lines they had to say. Surprisingly, this was really fun. We all got to bond and get to know each other a little more. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there, which made the whole atmosphere feel encouraging. It felt like we were all “academically hanging out.”
Going into the audio room was super exciting and interesting. There were three mics, three cameras, and three sets of headphones. Reanna, Kayla, and I were in the room at the same time. It was so fun when we put on the headphones. We started speaking and it sounded like we had our own talk show. It felt like it too. It was such a fun experience!
Thursday
On Thursday, we had a field trip to the Natural History Museum, which is located just across the street from the Annenberg building. Usually, trips like these are common for elementary students and often serve more as eye stimulation than as prompts for deeper thought. But this time, it felt much more intimate-I was thinking with a journalistic mindset. I decided to spend some time alone, plugging in my headphones and walking around at my own pace. I took the time to appreciate each exhibit independently, rather than experiencing it with friends.
After the field trip, we had lunch which is always a surprise since the menu changes every day. For Journalism 101, we met in the new building because we were recording the Annenberg Youth Academy News. I felt completely starstruck by the whole recording experience. It involved reading and trying to memorize the script, practicing in front of the camera, and learning to read off the teleprompter. It all felt so real. At the same time, it was also very stressful. But that stress made me gain a deeper respect for real news anchors they have to do it live, with no second chances.
You might ask why I chose the word Envisionment to describe this week. There were a lot of hands-on experiences. However, what really stood out was the encouragement I felt in the moment. Throughout the week, I practiced everything I had learned from previous classes and actually implemented that knowledge into the things I was doing. That gave me confidence and reassurance.
I envisioned my future through the enjoyment I felt while speaking into the microphones in the podcast room. I imagined becoming an anchor after having the chance to be one for Annenberg News. It reminded me of a quote by Marshall Ganz: “Public narrative is a leadership practice of translating values into action. It is based on the fact that values are experienced emotionally.” That’s exactly how I felt. In those moments, I wasn’t just learning I was connecting my values, my excitement, and my vision for the future in a way that felt real.
Communicating Change 