Throughout my first year in Journalism 1-2 many students agreed that the course was just about writing. "You just write," they’d say. Of course, this led students to think it was an easy class and they goofed off. I, on the other hand, due to my dedication, took the class seriously and made staff.

Even though my duty on the staff was basically to write, the class gradually revealed the many elements involved in journalism. There was Web, page design, photography, graphics and art. Every section involves so many responsibilities that I cannot define them all. As a first year staff member, I observed the veteran staff members and learned enough to take on another challenge.

I was now approaching an interview for editorship. After the interview, I went over the responsibilities of my position and questioned whether I was the right fit or choosing the right path. After my first issue as Opinion editor I was relieved to know I had completed my job. The more I worked on page design and communication skills, the better I felt about my accomplishments.

Now, with more than a year of high school left, I am amazed at the many things I’ve done since I joined the staff that have helped me improve my journalism skills such as attending conventions in Fresno and Anaheim. At first, I felt as if I was being forced to go to these events, but I have come to enjoy it today.

            The entire staff and our adviser Don Bott regard the classroom as a second home, our home away from home. In many ways it is. I feel comfortable to enter the space where I spend most of my school days. The staff members are people I can be around. On late days where we stay to work after school before deadline, we gather to eat and just giggle and share time together as one big family.

Even though the class is entertaining we still have rules. Some may say as high school students we either have very few rights or no rights at all, that our work doesn’t matter. Truth is, we have rights that protect us like others, and our being high school students makes little difference.

We take our work seriously. Stories may be seen as controversial and unnecessary to the school which some might believe cause administrators to practice prior restraint, censoring it before it would be printed. Our adviser has the right to overrule such wishes.

According to the California Education Code, administrators in California public schools do not have the right to legally stop anything from being printed. The only reason this could happen is if the information is obscene, libelous, or likely to create danger. This is typically viewed as the adviser’s job to prevent these things.

As student reporters we acknowledge our job and the restrictions. We do not gossip or toot our own horns. We know our rights and don’t abuse them. In many ways, we play it safe. Freedom of press does not mean we have the freedom to pick on anyone and offend or even insult them. Instead, we choose stories that make an impact, stories that deserve to be covered and push towards better informing Stagg.