We all know the feeling of being “the new guy,” of experiencing the awkwardness of trying to figure out where you fit into a new environment. This emotion is especially strong if you don’t know what to expect out of a class, new workplace, etc. I expected to experience these feelings when I joined the Blended Advanced Media Lab class and began working on the staff of The North Star, Naperville North High School’s student newspaper. However, where I thought I’d suffer through anxiety and impostor syndrome, I was greeted with positivity and collaboration.
Unlike the numerous other times that I have been thrown into new classes or activities, I found myself instantly welcomed with open arms by everyone that I spoke to in Blended Advanced Media Lab. Blended Advanced Media is the class in which students produce written stories for The North Star, as well as The NOW, The North Star’s multimedia broadcast. Students can also make other multimedia content, such as social media posts.
The very first day that I was in this class, I was met with a proposal from an eccentric yet extremely kind and funny editor who had been a staff reporter and editor for the past three semesters. This proposal was to be part of his potential podcast, Coffee With Caleb. I was shocked that anyone would voluntarily work with someone as inexperienced as myself, much less someone that they had not met yet.
This near-instantaneous acceptance as a part of the community showed me the true camaraderie and compassion that made The North Star so special.
Despite this, I was still nervous about being a part of the staff, as I had no idea where I would thrive in the class. Would I be a voracious features writer, or try to master multimedia? When I tried to soothe this fear by inquiring about the different components of the class, Encountering this fear is when I really learned how supported I was. Not only did everyone accept me socially; each person was willing to help me figure out anything that I needed help with, no matter how dumb the question.
I began my Blended Advanced Media Lab career at the start of second semester, whereas the majority of students joined at the start of first semester. Because of this, I did not get a formal run-through of all the processes that you need to follow for publishing, formatting, etc. However, I am actually glad that I missed the formal introduction, because asking around about what needs to happen to get a story, podcast, Heads Up Huskies post or any other piece of media published has allowed me to deepen my relationships with the other students in the class. Through my experiences writing, filming, and otherwise assisting in the creation of media, I have started to find my place in the ecosystem of this class, and I know I am always welcome to work on anything that interests me.
If you are thinking about joining The North Star, or any adjacent productions at Naperville North, I suggest that you do it. I can promise that it will be the best decision you will make in your high school career (although that is not exactly a high bar to set). Juniors, seniors and second-semester sophomores are generally able to join Blended Advanced Media Lab. If you’re unable to squeeze the course into your schedule, you can get involved with The North Star by participating in the Newspaper Club. However, if you do take the class, if your experience bears a resemblance to my own, you will thoroughly enjoy every moment.
