As I sit here, in my IB Theory of Knowledge class, my hands are pecking at the keys to string together some kind of poignant sentence. I am reminded of why I decided to join The Sidekick.

When I was 9 years old, I had just seen “Gilmore Girls” for the first time and knew that no matter what, I was going to be a member of my high school newspaper. Once I moved to Coppell, I was eager to find out whether or not there was a high school newspaper.

When I was 11, I finally had my answer. The summer before seventh grade I got the chance to participate in a summer program at Coppell Middle School North and that is when I met The Sidekick adviser, Chase Wofford. 

He told us all about The Sidekick and the work journalists at Coppell High School were doing. I knew at that moment that I was going to be a part of that award-winning newspaper and find a way to leave my mark.

Fast forward five years, here I am, the CHS9 editor of The Sidekick and a stressed junior who has no idea where she wants to go to college. However, I now know exactly what I want to do with my life.

Journalism gives you the opportunity to highlight the things society tends to overlook. My favorite way of doing this has been through personal columns.

Through these columns I have found an avenue of self-expression. Prior to joining The Sidekick I was a very timid person. I kept quiet and never expressed the darker parts of myself out of the fear that I would be judged or that it wouldn’t be relatable.

Now, I don’t think anyone on staff would have guessed that that’s who I used to be. I am known for my loud personality and my passion for The Sidekick. 

Through journalism I have had the chance to tell countless stories that have shined a light on the less commonly discussed topics. When people tell me that they’ve read my stories, it gives me a feeling of fulfillment.

I am beyond happy that while small, I have had some sort of impact on my peers. I am glad that I have been a source of comfort and someone who they can relate to. It is moments like these that remind me why I love journalism and I could not be more grateful.

All of this, of course, would not be possible without the trust of my editors, adviser and ultimately the fact that even as a high school student, we have the freedom of the press. If I didn’t have this I could not share my personal experiences, challenge authority when necessary or call out the people who deserve it.

Most importantly, I have to thank you, the reader, for giving me the opportunity to make a difference. So, thank you.

Follow Nyah (@nyah_rama) and @CHSCampusNews on X.