Journalism can create opportunities to explore different interests. The Sidekick staff designer Shrika Elma shares her journey and how joining the program helped her find her passion for art. Photo illustration by Naila Ali and Karthika Dayanand

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SJW2025: Journalism allowing creative pathways to shine

Shrika Elma, Staff Designer

February 28, 2025

I sat at the desk in the classroom of Coppell High School Ninth Grade Center Principles of Arts, AV Tech and Communications teacher Chad Price’s third period class in November 2023, waiting for him to post a resource on Schoology that would help us make a podcast for an assignment.

After reloading Schoology, a link to “The Sidekick/Coppell Student Media” popped up—I clicked on it.

It sent me to CoppellStudentMedia.com. I explored CSM, beginning with the comics. I started reading columns from the opinions section, spending the rest of that class reading various posts on CSM.

I eventually started to check CSM daily to see if anything new had been posted, and there usually was something new to read almost every day.

Attending Coppell High School Open House in January 2024 increased my interest in joining The Sidekick.

On Jan. 18, 2024, I finished making an animated short film, Ripple of Light, and on Jan. 31, 2024, the short film was featured in the KCBY-TV Film Fest as the only film made by a freshman. Going to the Film Fest increased my interest in joining KCBY-TV.

By the time that I was supposed to choose courses for the 2024-25 school year, I could not choose between KCBY-TV or The Sidekick. After members of both KCBY-TV and The Sidekick visited my principles class, I thought, maybe I should join the newspaper. It seems to have more options.

Fast-forward one year where I am a sophomore and staff designer for The Sidekick.

I do not regret my decision.

Being in The Sidekick has allowed me to explore new interests while still pursuing what I enjoy. For example, I originally wanted to write for the newspaper, inspired by CHS 2023 graduate Shrika Vurimi, in addition to my interest in writing fictional stories, but decided to become a staff designer to pursue my interest in drawing. Now, I have dabbled in column writing and design.

Being in The Sidekick has taught me what being in a newsroom and meeting a lot of deadlines at once is like. It is both exciting and a bit challenging at times, yet still really enjoyable.

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