Newspaper and I have a love/hate relationship. There are moments where everything is good then there are moments when I want to throw my computer across the room. My favorite part of newspaper is the people and seeing my stories published or printed. The best feeling is having one of your stories go on the front page of the print edition of The Rider. During my time in newspaper I have had two of my stories on the front page.

The people on staff have become my family. Being an only child I never knew what it was like to have brothers and sisters, but now I do thanks to newspaper. We fight like a family but at the end of the day, we’re cool. The Rider Staff is probably the most random mix of people in the school. We have the jocks, theatre kids, UIL academics kids and art kids. This is where I have met some of my best friends. We are a pretty crazy group. We are really loud; if you walked in on one our “Monday Meetings” you would think we are mad. Honestly, I never thought I would be friends with some of these people, because we are from different cliques.

I’m blessed to have had this experience of being on staff. The memories I have made over the years will be ones that I will remember for the rest of my life. So leaving is bittersweet, but I’m excited to see what the future has in store for me.

Date: Friday, August 2
Location: Gexa Energy Pavilion, Dallas, Texas

Purchase tickets at http://www.vanswarpedtour.com/

More information and tour dates at http://www.gomoxie.org/concerts/warped/PRESS%20RELEASE.pdf

Throughout journalism I have learned how to better my writing skills which will help me in college when I major in sports marketing and minor in journalism. I have made several new friends in this class which also makes it harder to move on after this year, because now there are more people that I have to say goodbye to when I go off to college.

Having a story post on therideronline.com is a great feeling that I am going to miss once this year is over. I am hoping that at Frank Phillips Junior College, where I will be attending next year on a baseball scholarship, has an online newspaper that I can get involved with. When people hear about the option of being in newspaper class they get a little scared because they don’t think their writing is good enough to be in the class or they are shy and don’t want other people to read their stories. Honestly, nobody in newspaper will make fun of you for your writing, they will just help you make the story even better. If you are worried you aren’t good enough at writing to get into newspaper then take Journalism One to refresh and better your skills, because I promise you that once you get in newspaper or yearbook you will have a blast.

This is going to be a bittersweet goodbye, I will be going off to accomplish bigger and better things in my life. I mentioned earlier in this blog that I will be attending Frank Phillips College in Borger Texas which is in the panhandle on a baseball scholarship. I will be graduating from there with an Associate’s Degree of Applied science, but when I transfer to a university I will be getting at least a bachelor’s in sports marketing and I’ll be minoring in journalism. I’ll be about six hours away, but I will definitely still be keeping up with therideronline.com when I have some down time in my dorm.

I just want to say goodbye and goodluck to everybody who will be joining the “Journalism Team” and to everyone who will be leaving as well. It’s been a fun ride and I can’t wait to see what next year brings to everybody. Adios muchachos!

I started by joining a few clubs. Within a couple a months, I realized that I had no interest in those clubs, so I was back at square one. Sophomore year, I originally decided to be in Journalism One because I just needed to fill out my schedule. Turned out to be one of the best decision I’ve made in my high school career.

I wanted to become a photographer but my dreams were crushed when Mr. Mallett assigned me to take some pictures of PE. Well, let’s just say that the pictures were a blurry mess. When Mr. Mallett assigned us to write stories, it grew on me.

I remember Mr. Mallett would write ‘awesome’ or ‘good story’ on my stories. Not going to lie. I felt pretty amazing inside when I saw those comments in red with his nice handwriting.

The first couple of months of newspaper, I was really frustrated because nothing I was writing was getting posted online. I remember my first story that got posted was Fall Television Premiere. I’ll post a link in case you really want to read it.

Being on the newspaper staff for two years, I’ve learned some things:

• Writing stories, most of the time, is easy but requires a lot of time.
• People automatically think that I’m a good writer, when honestly, writing is still one of my weakness.
• It is possible to write a story without any ‘is’, hard but possible. (Ignore the fact that this blog has several ‘is’).
• If you want Mr. Mallett to do something, you have to tell him several times or else he will forget.

Honestly, I could type a long story and overwhelm you with my feelings over this publication, but I wanted to keep my last blog short and to the point. My experience being on the newspaper staff has been amazing and I would recommend to anyone to take it.

“There’s never down time for me, ever,” Shine said.

Shine has been participating in music and theatre for the majority of her life. As a kid she was a part of her Church’s musical theatre and also sang in choir throughout middle school. She has been singing in Legacy’s school choir for three years.

“I like to sing and advance into the choir. I think Mr. Z is a good director,” Shine said. “It really is just like one big family.”

The Chamber Choir competed in UIL competition winning the highest place, Sweepstakes.

“I was very proud,” Shine said. “We have won them every year I’ve participated in choir, but it was a great way to end my senior year.”

Shine takes choir as a class so most of the practicing takes place during school along with the occasional after school practice. Her life outside of school consists of working at Imagine Nation Center of Learning taking care of kids from Kindergarten all the way to Sixth grade. She also tutors students from multiple different grade levels. Shine hopes to become a teacher in the future.

“I believe there should be more good teachers developing in this world because that is starting to slowly decline,” Shine said.

Shine will attend the University of Texas at Arlington and will participate in the English as a Second Language teaching program this fall. She plans to acquire her degree in disciplinary studies, or elementary, and teach somewhere in the Mansfield or Arlington area. She also enjoys taking art classes which may play a role in her teaching career at some point in time. Shine hopes to become an art teacher or a music teacher, but she is sure that she wants to teach elementary students regardless of what the subject is.

“I honestly believe I have a God given talent and passion for them [kids,]” Shine said. “They bring me so much joy and I love seeing them grow and develop into them and be themselves.”

Shine’s mother is her greatest inspiration to follow a teaching career.

“My mom is my biggest inspiration because she’s been teaching for 13 years,” Shine said. “She’s really good at it and I honestly believe that I developed my patience and kind-heartedness from her.”

“I’ve gone back and forth, back and forth,” Mr. Stewart said of his decision to leave. “I’ve been presented with an opportunity that, to be honest, it would be hard to turn down– an opportunity that will hopefully help me progress down the path of my own career. Like my mom said, ‘You’d be a fool to turn it down.’”

Mr. Stewart received the call confirming his position May 14, and announced his departure at a teacher’s meeting May 15.

“I can’t put into words how much you mean to me,” Mr. Stewart told the staff at the meeting. “I brag on you all. Everyone here brings something special to the table. I called this meeting because I wanted you to hear it from the horse’s mouth, but also because I wanted you to know I attribute a lot of my success to you.”

Before coming to Legacy from T.A. Howard Middle School, Mr. Stewart was the Principal at S.H. Crowley Intermediate School in the Crowley ISD. Prior to that Stewart was an Assistant Principal in Crowley ISD, and a teacher and coach in the Fort Worth ISD. His ultimate goal is to become the superintendent of a school district.

“I’m looking forward to reconnecting with Dr. Morrison,” Mr. Stewart said. “I love his style of leadership and his vision. He is a great role model for myself as an aspiring superintendent. I’m looking forward to learning to work with the different levels of schooling under his tutelage, especially as I hope to one day walk in the shoes of a superintendent.

Currently working to achieve his Ph.D. at Stephen F. Austin University, Mr. Stewart has also had some things to learn from his first year working on a high school campus.

“I’ve enjoyed interacting with the young people at Legacy,” Mr. Stewart said. “They all are at critical points in their life. It was my goal- and I felt, my duty- to prepare these students for the real world. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed sitting down and being able to play a part in the social and educational development of the young people here.”

Since taking over as principal from Director of Student Services David Wright, in Feb. 2012, Mr. Stewart has worked to create strong relationships with staff members.

“I’ve enjoyed the relationships that have developed between myself and the staff,” Mr. Stewart said. “It’s been a tough year with all of the changes. I wanted to assure them that I was just as vested in the job as they were.”

After making the announcement to the teachers, Mr. Stewart left them with one last remark.

“Let’s keep Bronco Nation alive. Thank you for all you do for students.”