It is no secret that I am an uncanny person. 

I meow in class, lead chaotic chants and admit to things I shouldn’t, like my unhealthy habit of doom-scrolling on TikTok on the weekends. But truthfully, I wasn’t always this way and never expected to find myself here either as both an alleged furry and The Sidekick executive social media editor. 

I did not even know what The Sidekick was until July 2022, a few weeks before I became an official student at Coppell High School. 

Obviously, back then, I was a try-hard; an overly anxious incoming sophomore who wanted to make sure I could get into a good college or be set on a good path. 

This ambition led me to my friend Coppell High School 2023 graduate William Li, who suggested I join The Sidekick through my interest in public relations and communications, along with its impressive accolades associated with the program, which would look good on my resume. 

This eventually led me to connect with The Sidekick 2022-23 editor-in-chief Angelina Liu, who, after a few text messages and emails, helped me join the program. 

What I did not expect was my experiences beyond the papers. 

When I first got started in the program, truthfully, I slacked off. I never knew what I wanted to do or what assignments I needed to work on. 

However, I do owe everything I know now not only to the program, but the people in it. Without my former 2022-23 editors, Angelina, Shrayes Gunna, Josh Campbell, Sri Achanta and Olivia Short, who assigned me stories I didn’t know where to begin with, graphics (which I eventually learned I wasn’t very good at) and sport coverages, I would not know where I would be today. 

When I had to take on soccer coverage despite forgetting to check out a camera or having a writer, it was Olivia who encouraged me to stick with it. That experience led me to meet staff writer Naila Ali, who was in eighth grade at the time, as she let me borrow her camera to snap a quick photo during our coverage. 

Or Josh, Shrayes and Angelina, who met up with me to help brainstorm my assignment or helped me write or draw. 

Or Sri, who encouraged me to write my first ever news feature, despite not knowing where to start at the beginning. If I weren’t thrown into the deep waters of Sidekick, with floaties provided by my past editors, I never would have learned how to swim. 

The same concept was added when I was fortunate enough to be a part of the 2023-24 leadership team, serving as the podcast producer. 

Again, I truthfully did not even comprehend how podcasts were produced, or how to fluidly talk on one. But without this experience, I would not have learned how to use Adobe Audition, educated myself on different topics and produced award-winning episodes for the 2023-24 show The Talk. I would not have been able to help produce the Pinkerton Podcast, a show where we met and worked with Pinkerton Elementary School students and teachers to help preserve their legacy, as they’ll be closing down after this school year. 

I remembered looking up to the seniors in the program as a sophomore and how confident, well-spoken and talented they all seemed to be. I often wondered how one could accomplish that level of perfection. Now, in the same position, I realized it is not just their capabilities but the way the program has shaped these individuals.

When I refer to the program, I’m really referring to our adviser Chase Wofford. He is the heart and soul of Coppell Student Media. 

He is the wise and all mighty, the person who has edited every content, knows every staff member and has organized the program to the way it is today. Mr. Wofford’s persistent push in every class for us to produce stories and seek them has been an inspiration to me. 

Without his sometimes utterly long announcements at the beginning of class, I would not be producing the stories of individuals I’ve learned so much from.

All these different experiences have led me to the skills and capabilities of my role today. Learning from the best of the best, having that standard for myself has allowed me to pave the way for myself to get there.  

Eventually, for me, being in The Sidekick was like a high. Every time I hit the publish button, every award received, praise, but more importantly, every new skill I’ve learned and people I’ve met. Everything I know now, I owe to this program. 

So thank you,  Sidekick, for all the stories you allowed me to tell, the places you got me to and the experiences you’ve given me. 

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