After spending four years at BHS and three of those years in Mrs. Pendergrass’s Journalism class, I have developed a very strong and positive opinion on the class and newspaper that I have spent so much time involved in. Receiving my “wanted” poster in the mail the summer after my freshmen year expressing that someone in the journalism class the previous year saw potential in me changed my life. I signed up for it when I got back to school that fall, and the rest is history. I spent the second quarter of my sophomore year learning the ropes of journalistic writing and press history, not knowing what lay ahead in my future of school newspaper production. My sophomore year, I underestimated my writing abilities and my potential as a leader in this class.

The next year, I walked into PG’s class with butterflies in my stomach, knowing that this was the first day of being an editor. It seemed unreal, and my anxiety stemmed from the fact that I never thought in a million years that I would be prepared for this role. And to be honest, I wasn’t. I barely had the writing experience, never mind the leadership experience in this field, and with that in mind I knew that becoming a good editor was going to take some work. It took me a while, but when I finally felt that I was good enough to take on this role, another change came. We went to the web, and I had to start all over again. It was a process to say the least, but after spending my senior year trying and failing, learning and growing, and helping transform “The Roar” into something that we could all be proud of, I am sad to be leaving the production room May 27th. In fact, I will miss this class so much that I have realized that this is more than just a class. This is an experience, and without it I wouldn’t be the writer, or person, that I am today.

The interviews and chaotic nature of this class is just the beginning; the class’s ability to show you who you are, that’s the special part. I can’t wrap my brain around the fact that people wouldn’t want to take this class, because it is unlike any class that is offered at BHS. If you’re an underclassmen reading this, take my words seriously. This class will change you for the better in all aspects, and once you start I can assure you that you’ll fall in love. I remember not even knowing that the Journalism class existed, and now I can not imagine my life without taking it. This can be you, looking back on your high school experience with only gratitude, without any wonder of what could’ve been. I encourage you to take this opportunity while you can; I did, and I couldn’t be more grateful.