There is a reason that I have never written a personal column during my time on The Sidekick.
Although editorial page editor Nyah Rama has often nudged me to write one, I have never felt particularly drawn to the idea. I always jokingly respond that I am “not introspective enough.”
Instead, I would say I am extrospective. I have always been better at examining what is going on around me rather than reflecting on what is inside me. Talking about myself, let alone writing about it, seems painful. It just does not come naturally.
And that very instinct shaped my first step into The Sidekick.
Alongside CHS9 editor Anvita Bondada, who convinced me it would be a fun class, little old Sahasra — a reserved and slightly awkward sophomore — joined the newspaper, drawn to the role of staff photographer. Capturing moments quietly with no words required, it felt like a good trade-off.
Somewhere along the way, I said yes to writing a story for my very first assignment: a review of the truly terrible Pinocchio (2022) remake. To my surprise, it was actually fun to write.
There was a certain satisfaction in translating what I saw into the right words. Taking note of the little details and crafting each word with intention, I realized the art of writing was made to express how I viewed the world.
So, I continued to write.
By the end of my sophomore year, I had written nine feature stories and fell in love with the experience. Each person I met was a different soul, and I had the privilege of stepping into their world, piecing together their experiences and narrating their story.
Although feature writing holds a deep place in my heart, news is what sealed the deal. Becoming news editor in my junior year, which was the last thing I expected considering I had never written a news story, gave me a new sense of drive.
Reporting offers me a trail to follow, uncovering community narratives and bringing them to life. Like a proper newshound, my quiet inquisitiveness became my compass, guiding me toward stories waiting to be told and giving voice to the voiceless. I guess Mr. Wofford knew something I didn’t when he gave me the position.
That’s the thing. In telling stories that weren’t mine, I discovered the one that was.
Behind every story, it’s me conveying it, embracing the meaning in the task. I do not need to be at the center — I find more clarity from the sidelines and purpose in giving others the spotlight.
Whether it be letting Coppell High School 2022–23 graduate and former Bee Club president Elizabeth Grace Walker ramble on about bee facts during our interview, diving into the nitty-gritty of the Coppell ISD budget crisis during a time for truth and transparency or having the honor to write about CHS9 student Sean Gooden, who built his Lego Club brick by brick — I have come to understand what makes me a storyteller.
I revel in the fact I’m curious enough to keep asking questions, perceptive enough to gather every detail others might overlook and empathetic enough to carry those stories with care.
I am truly no one without the people around me.
My observancy is no longer just a quiet limitation — it has become a quiet strength I use with devotion. I am someone who deeply cares for others and who finds joy in making others feel seen. I shine with this strength, leading with compassion and enhancing the spaces I’m in.
I will not lie, writing this took everything in me. But in an intricate way, I became more introspective by being extrospective, so I suppose it’s fitting my final story for The Sidekick is a personal column.
In communicating others’ stories, I found my voice. And in doing so, I found myself inside out.
Follow Sahasra (@sahasrachak24) and @CHSCampusNews on X.
