I never expected a program I found on a whim to have such a profound impact on my passion for journalism. After finding this program, I felt very underqualified to attend it. I felt that there may have been candidates that were far more experienced than me or even smarter than me. Those feelings of doubt disappeared when I was accepted into the AYA program. I was overjoyed, nervous, and excited all at the same time. I had little to no clue about what I had gotten myself into, but all I knew was that I was ready. I was ready to explore this field and meet like-minded people who shared my passion for journalism. After settling into the program, I realized that our similarities expanded beyond journalism.
I took a photo of the USC building after feeling proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone.
Before even beginning the first lesson, I had already learned so much. I quickly realized that letting my doubts consume me was unnecessary because everyone in the program was nervous. We were all entering the program with uncertainty, but, despite this, we were all excited. We didn’t have to be scared of each other because we were all there to learn. Love and kindness are a universal language. Feeling everybody’s warmth through something as simple as an icebreaker made me feel instantly comfortable in this new environment. After being so anxious for days, my nerves were easily settled by the soft smiles of my peers. We all acknowledged each other and how blessed we were to have been given the opportunity to better educate ourselves on journalism and communication.
Within my first four lessons with Prof. Lopez, the lesson on civic media has been my favorite. We began by looking at an image that illustrated how important news and the press are to our democracy. Without journalism, our democracy would not function properly. Because of this, it is important that people understand the media they consume. The media is meant to inform people and it should be created with the proper intentions.
Not only does the media inform common members of our country, but we can use it to inform our decision makers, our government officials. Small steps can be taken to lead to larger changes. Prof. Lopez taught us about the program the Obama administration created to ensure the consideration of American citizens’ concerns called “We the People.” Through this program, Americans were able to directly contact the White House to address issues they may have. Of course, this was only possible through a whopping 100,000 signatures. The establishment of this program reinforced the idea that the government is here to serve us, the people, and care for us. Not only should the government care, but we all should as well. Our journalists care to inform us. Our teachers care to educate us. We should care for each other. Prof. Lopez’s lesson planted the idea that journalism is more than simply reporting facts. It is a tool that informs citizens, strengthens democracy, and creates meaningful change. Through AYA, I have not only deepened my understanding of journalism but also gained a greater appreciation for the responsibility that comes with informing and serving others.
Communicating Change 