23
The AHS Journalism
Family out for a family
style meal during the
San Francisco
convention. When the
staff is small and fund
is large, everyone can
go for free, and did.
The bonds formed
during trips are some
of the strongest ones
that will ever occur.
Photo by Thomas
Kaup.
students to compete means that
they do not have to try to please me
by doing more than they are able to
do.
Achieving the Dow Jones Special
Recognition Adviser award was the
culmination for me. I will be, and am,
forever grateful for the recognition.
Because of that honor, I get to be a
fierce advocate for my students on
a national level. Because of that
honor, I could lift the trophy up for
Mom and Dad to see from wherever
they went after leaving this world.
Moms and dads like that sort of
thing, and sons and daughters like
that they like that sort of thing.
My sixth-period class did not get the
honored seating at the assembly
by raising the most money for the
Relay for Life. We did not get the
certificate for bringing the most food
for the food bank drive. What that
class did get is another day feeling
valued and respected for
just who they are. I do not
need or want anything
more from them then
just their presence. That
is an incredible gift, one
they never ever realize
enough. Each and every one of them
is indeed a remarkable and worthy
gift that is more precious than thirty
pieces of silver, or twenty cans of
Chicken of the Sea tuna.
We belong to a great community of
journalism teachers and students.
I applaud the achievements of my
colleagues and know the hours
sacrificed by teachers and students
to create astounding papers,
yearbooks and web sites. These
achievements deserve all of the
recognition they receive and more.
These people have full backpacks
and water bottles to climb up Mount
Scholastic Journalism. I can watch
them climb with brotherly affection
and not get down on myself because
I cannot join them. Besides, my
Tacoma is air-conditioned and has
cushioned shocks. I can see all I need
to right through my windshield, and
it is a beautiful thing.
Being a fierce advocate means that I
will protect my kids from competing
where the odds will never be in their
favor.
I will protect them from my own ego
and drive to be recognized.
I feel honored to be given this
opportunity to share my voice for
the students in our school. They
are pretty amazing young men and
women. I care for them as strongly as
I care for anyone, both the students
who have very little in terms of
material possessions and the ones
who come to school in their own
newer cars. We are a family.
I am a fierce advocate for my
students. There it is, just around
the bend of the interstate, Mount
Scholastic Journalism in the full JPEG
glory of 300 megabytes. It is truly a
beautiful and amazing sight. I am
so honored to be there with my kids
and with all of you.
No thanks, I do not need a water
bottle or backpack, I am fine here
in the Tacoma. I brought hazelnut
coffee and a couple chocolate chip
cookies.