Below are two columns written by students attending the 2008 Auburn University High School Journalism Workshop. A total of 17 students from Alabama and Georgia participated in the weeklong program supported by the Alabama Press Association Journalism Foundation and the Press-Register in Mobile. Other Alabama newspapers also supported the program with donations for welcome bags.

Workshop sparks changes, helps inspire: by Robert Hill

Arriving on June 8, I was eager to see what the Auburn University journalism workshop had in store for my fellow campers and me. In turns out the schedule we had planned far exceeded my expectations.

I was given a schedule that put me far out of my element. Summer for me means waking up at around lunchtime then sitting around for what seems like an entirety of a whole day. Not this week.

I became an early riser, waking up so that I could be in the foyer for breakfast at 8 a.m. There was no contesting the time of our classes or what time we should arrive. “Class attendance is mandatory and roll will be taken at the start of each class period,” our policies read. “Being tardy to lecture or lab will not be tolerated.” I knew this wouldn't be easy because I'm not a punctual person at all.

The first day I quickly learned that by coming and arriving on time to the lectures and classes, I would receive a bundle of information valuable to me as an inspiring broadcaster.

Although some lectures proved to be as boring as they looked on paper, I found some to be very helpful. Jack Smith took the time out to talk to us about community journalism, but went more in depth to standing up for the greater good of the community. “A good community newspaper serves two purposes; it is a mirror and a compass,” Smith said.

After the lecture, Smith and I chatted about soccer and fellow quantizes. He seemed to actually care about what I wanted to do and what I had sorted out to be my plan for college. “Wow” he said to my aspirations, “Well good luck with all of that man.” Those remarks alone helped encourage me to do my best throughout the whole week.

I was very interested in becoming a better writer after the writing crash course held by Professor Nan Fairley.

After writing my first draft of my first story I was excited to see how it would fare with Fairley. She tore it up. After she got done with the paper, the blue marks covered up the white background of my paper. I was humbled.

“I love the way you pieced it together,” Fairley said. “You just need to clean it up.”

The journalism workshop helped me become a better writer and helped to inspire me to reach my full potential. When I start this new school year, I will do just that.

Robert Hill is a student at Homewood High School.

Workshop 'ignites' interest in journalism: by Polina Marinova

From a concerned environmental expert to a football player to a successful Auburn journalism graduate, the Auburn Journalism Workshop is bound to ignite the interest of an individual regardless of what they desire to pursue in the future.

Coming into the workshop, I was expecting to learn about conventional writing skills. I was wrong.

Not only did we learn about the different styles of journalistic writing, but we were exposed to numerous influential speakers who are truly passionate about their careers. It was comforting to see that although some of them majored in something other than journalism, they are able to work at a job that continues to challenge and interest them.

I found the Birmingham Business Journal banking reporter Crystal Jarvis' words to be completely true to my life.

“One of the things that keeps me going in journalism is the challenge,” Jarvis said. “That's what drives me every morning.”

Yes, writing three stories in the range of three days is difficult, but that's reality and that's my future as an aspiring journalist. If I'm not challenged, then the incentive is gone and there isn't any point in doing something that won't force me to think.

Although I am on my school's newspaper staff, I've never been presented with the opportunity to interview a well-known figure in a professional environment. The workshop does just that. It gives journalism students a chance to attend mock press conferences and experience the true demands of being a journalist.

The workshop provided us with tools that would be of assistance in improving my school's student publi cation and newspaper class as a whole.

This experience doesn't only teach you about the writing aspects of journalism, but it forces you to relate and work with students who don't necessarily have the same interests as you.

It made me realize that journalism really is a broad field, and as long as you are willing to dedicate your time and effort in the work, then you can only continue to move forward and progress.

Nevertheless, it wasn't all work and no play. After a day of seminars and writing, the students played ultimate frisbee, cards, board games, watched movies or relaxed in dorm rooms.

Although we quickly became friends, all of the students were competing against one another in an effort to be recognized and win an award for their work.

“You have to set yourself apart from everyone else,” Jarvis said.

Polina Marinova is a student at North Springs High School.