What does it truly mean to find your voice?
My voice began to take shape within our school newspaper, the Tongva Times. I remember my first published article, “Embracing minds and diversity: Gabrielino’s new ethnic studies classes for the 2023-2024 year.” I had signed up for journalism on a whim, and it was the very beginning of my staff writer journey. I wrote the piece driven by a genuine curiosity about how Gabrielino was expanding its curriculum. The topic felt important, and seeing my name attached to it for the first time, connected to something meaningful, was a spark. It was an affirmation that my perspective had a place somewhere.
The journey since that piece hasn’t been straightforward. I have written many more practical, less serious stories, or “extras,” like “The 10: Ways to stay cool” or “The 10: Electives,” which taught me the craft of engaging readers with everyday topics. Then there were the deeper dives into community issues, such as the “Over enrollment in summer social sciences is a threat to Gabrielino,” where I learned the weight of investigative reporting and the responsibility of highlighting concerns as a writer. Each article, whether lighthearted or serious, became a small lesson in communication for me.
I realize now that I wasn’t just reporting on events, but also learning to observe the world with a more critical and empathetic eye. Interviewing teachers like Scott Facher, and being able to share how he united his acting past with his teaching present, or staff like Rose Huff, who ensured student success through understanding as a school psychologist, broadened my understanding of the diverse experiences and people that make up our school community. It was an honor to share their life stories and learn how deeply they’ve contributed as cogs of the school community. Covering athletic achievements, from “Boys golf makes history as CIF champions” to “Cross country maintains season head start, tops league rankings,” instilled in me an appreciation for dedication and collective effort that represents the Gabrielino community.
There were times I stumbled. My words sometimes felt clumsy and inadequate. But the supportive environment of the newsroom, the shared enthusiasm of my fellow staff members, and the encouragement of our advisor created a space where it felt safe to experiment, learn from mistakes, and to gradually, steadily, find the rhythm of my own writing, and my voice.
Looking back at my collection of articles–with this one being a fitting end–I see more than just news reports. I see a reflection of my own growth, both as a writer and a person. My time as a staff writer hasn’t just been a platform for news. It stands as a record of my evolving relationship with my school, my community, and myself.
School news, and the Tongva Times specifically, plays a vital role in the Gabrielino community. It’s a chronicle of our shared experiences as students, teachers, and staff, a forum for student voices, and a training ground for future change makers. By sharing our stories, we foster a stronger sense of connection and understanding within our school.
From my own experience, being a part of that process has been vital to my own growth as a writer and person. It has taught me the power of words to inform, connect, inspire, and helped me develop a profound sense of confidence in myself and my views that I don’t think I would have otherwise ever found.
As I reflect on my time with the Tongva Times, from staff writer to editor in chief, I realize that finding my voice wasn’t a singular event, but a continuous journey shaped by each article, each interview, and each late night editing session. I’ve learnt to observe and to translate my observations into words that resonate. I’ve found the courage to share both others’ and my own perspective, and I can now confidently say it is no longer difficult to do so.
So while this may be a farewell to my time writing for the Tongva Times, I am grateful for the honor of having contributed to something greater than myself, with a staff that I am far more grateful to have known. To the students who will follow in our footsteps at the Tongva Times, but also really any underclassmen reading this piece, I encourage you to embrace the journey. Don’t be afraid of expressing yourself through that first word, whether it’s as a staff writer or elsewhere. Learn from every story or experience, and recognize the incredible privilege of contributing to the narrative that is our school.
Through your time here at Gabrielino, you’ll find the unfolding story of yourselves. And that, I’ve learned, is a story worth telling.
