By Tolu Salako
Editorial Page Editor

BOSTON – In July, 41 students from high schools all around the country congregate in the Marriot Quorum Dallas ballroom, furiously typing on their Macbooks or iPads. Our assignment: to write a heart-wrenching story about either himself or herself or another person in the class.

So on the last day of the class, we sit in a circle and let the awkward quiet wash over us like a bad odor we are all aware of, but too nervous to talk about. Our teachers say nothing, waiting for one of us to take the lead. I refuse to make eye contact with everyone else and pretend to be preoccupied with something stuck underneath my nail. Finally, the silence is broken by Madison, who slowly stands up, column in hand. The invisible chip under my nail disappears as Madison begins to read the fruit of her labor. Then Max begins to read, then Sam, then Scotty and then me.

After this one class, I had made friends that would last me a lifetime. Four months later, I would still keep in contact with these student journalists and looked forward to the day I would see them again: 11 a.m. in Au Bon Pain café by the Sheraton Boston hotel at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention

We skipped the “How are yous?” and the “how is your publication?” questions and tried to avoid small talk. We instead asked, “How are you? Really.”

It is amazing how sharing stories to complete strangers in a ballroom created such a special bond with one another and the fact that we still remembered each other’s heart-wrenching stories months later was purely incredible.

So as I sat in Au Bon Pain with a few students that I had met in the rather large the Marriott ballroom in July, conversation seemed to flow so easily as if we had seen each other the previous day. The love of journalism brought us together from all corners of the country and it also made it possible to meet once more at this convention.

There are times when students initially take these conventions and workshops as a way to get out of state or have a reason to skip school for at least two days.  And though these conventions are meant to teach students how to be better journalist and leaders, they an also help foster stronger and personal relationship with others that share the same passion.

So as I hugged all goodbye, knowing that I may never see them again, I look back and acknowledge the fact that though we will soon go our separate ways, the bond for certain aspects of life will always keep us closer together.