RCHS media students toured NBC 5 Chicago and posed with anchors Allison Rosati and Rob Stafford during the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.

By Jana Seal, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of Alex Shaffer

On November 1, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) media students had the opportunity to attend the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Chicago. There was something for everyone; newspaper students had the opportunity to listen to speakers from the Chicago Tribune, multimedia students had the opportunity to tour NBC 5 Chicago, and yearbook students were able to learn from professionals and scout out design ideas.

An amazing thing about these conferences is that students are able to see that even if they are not 100 percent sure what they want to do, there are so many career options and paths that combine numerous passions within the media world. Newspaper students were able to see how a career in broadcast might look, broadcast students were able to see how a career in public relations might look, and so on.

High school really is the tireless pursuit of what one excels at and enjoys most. These conferences can be a great aid to students on their path of self discovery.

“For me, Chicago really inspired my career path because it opened my eyes to the many opportunities you have within the journalism field and all of the different experiences that are available to even just high school students,” multimedia student and Castle Pines resident Courtenay Krause said.

Not only are these experiences determining factors toward a career path, but they provide students with so many ideas to bring back home and improve their publication or broadcast. Many students returned with countless ways to improve the school’s social media reach. There are so many influences brought to the student-media table regarding the digital age, and talking to people who have mastered success within it can largely impact a student’s preparedness for college.

Students spent lunch in between sessions at The Cloud Gate sculpture (The Bean) in Millennium Park in Chicago during the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.

“I loved meeting people who are in the field in which I want to study, and hearing about their experiences like where they studied, so that we feel more prepared for college and our careers,” said student and Castle Pines resident Lauren Karaba.

Students were able to talk to representatives and recruitment officers from media colleges around the country – which not only is an amazing exploration of a career path, but a great networking opportunity. Top schools, such as University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, talked to students about their futures, and students came away with T-shirts, pens, contacts and most importantly, inspiration.