ADMIT ONE: Lakeview to Philly

In November, ten communication department students and their two advisers traded in their textbooks for the historic streets of Philadelphia. The four-day adventure was packed with fun, learning, and unforgettable memories.

     But the trip wasn’t all history and sightseeing. The students attended the JEA Fall Workshop, where they learned from industry experts, networked with other young journalists, and gained valuable insights into the world of media.  

ALWAYS A FUN MOMENT

     Junior Lai Lah Gibson emphasized the importance of seizing every opportunity she has, recognizing that some chances are truly once-in-a-lifetime.

     “I think my favorite part was, honestly, not only the journalism conference but getting to hang out with everyone there. It was such a cool bunch of people, and we just had so much fun together, no matter what we were doing… Walking on the streets, eating dinner together, it was always a fun moment.” Gibson said.

     She encourages others to take advantage of opportunities. “You should take every opportunity you can in your four years here because you never know when these opportunities to travel and go to conferences might appear again, so you should try to take these while they’re available,” she said.

A FUNDAMENTAL APPROACH

     Senior Bryan Smith took a more fundamental approach to his trip experience, focusing on learning more about journalism. He attended sessions to find, identify, and present news effectively.

     “I went to Philly because I wanted to learn how to find news, how to identify news, [and how to] present it to people, so [that] people know what’s going on around them,” Smith said.

     Smith encourages others to embrace a “try everything” mindset. He believes that even negative experiences can lead to growth and learning opportunities.

     “I would like people to know that [they] should try everything and see what [they] like and what [they] don’t like, and even if [they] don’t like it, [they] still have the learning opportunity or experience of growing…,” Smith said.

EXCURSIONS ENHANCE LEARNING                  

     Junior Adyson Graves had a blast during her recent trip to Philadelphia. She used her time in Philadelphia not only to take in the knowledge from the conference but also to take in the experiences and “excursions.” She enjoyed taking in these new experiences with her friends

     “I loved the classes, especially the amazing speakers,” Graves said. “But the excursions were incredible, too!

Walking around the city and seeing new sights with friends was a crazy and fun experience.”

     Graves believes the conference helped her grow as a journalist.

     “I learned a lot from the classes, especially about being a better writer, designer, and overall journalist,” she shared.

STRATEGIC BENEFICIAL

     Senior Anthony Prill utilized his experiences in Philadelphia as a tool, taking in as much information as possible from the classes and sessions he could attend.

     “My experience in Philadelphia was extremely beneficial to both myself and my career,” Prill said. “Learning how to properly record sports clips and strategies to become a better commentator through [National Scholastic Press Association’s] various rooms and meetings helped me better grasp what I need to do to advance a career in sports broadcasting.”

     Prill also enjoyed the opportunity to network with other young journalists.

     “I was also able to meet and talk to new people that share my passion, not just from Lakeview, but also from around the country,” he said. “The overall experience attending the JEA Fall Conference was very positive for my career, and I would return if I could.”