A Note from Kayla Brogan:

Going into high school, I only vaguely knew what journalism was. I thought it was a traditional newspaper that arrived on my steps in a blue-tinted sleeve—something a modern American would glance at and discard. During the summer before my freshman year, I decided to take journalism as an elective with Ms. Simmons.

I soon learned that there are many kinds of journalism that take place within the media and on paper. I stopped merely coexisting with The New York Times and other news outlets and began to truly read their articles. As my freshman year progressed, I began to read between the lines and discover each reporter’s journalistic voice and style.

Ms. Simmons’ class also taught me investigative journalism. This allows you to focus on in-depth research to uncover information often hidden or unacknowledged by those in positions of power. It often exposes the inhumane truths of society. In freshman year, I thought this would be the most invigorating job for my future. “The Orange’s” quote is, “All the juice that’s fit to print,” which truly echoed the power of journalism and uncovering the truth.

My first article for “The Orange” was to report on “Humans of White Plains.” In Ms. Simmons’ class, we were instructed to find someone within the building or community to interview and develop a story on. I decided to interview Mauricio Toro, WPHS maintenance mechanic.

The individual I wanted to interview greeted me with a smile each morning and tackled each task within the building with enthusiasm and diligence. The following morning, I found Mauricio along his habitual route and asked if he would be willing to be interviewed in the library during lunch. He eagerly said yes. I generated basic questions to ask him, such as: “How did you become a maintenance mechanic?” “How long have you been working here?” etc. Uncertain during my first interview, I anticipated mere surface-level responses. To my surprise, as the conversation unfolded, Mauricio shared profound insights into his journey. In high school, interviewing Mauricio was my first real accomplishment—and a moment I will always remember.

This was also the moment I realized journalists uncover answers to the “hard” questions—answers that unveil themselves only through intuition and perseverance.

My time at “The Orange” was filled with uncovering stories within WPHS, the broader community, and around the world. As the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, I’ve encountered diverse perspectives through my own reporting and the reporting of others. Each new article deepened my sense of empathy.

My advice to the next group of journalists who write for “The Orange” is this: There is so much to be uncovered in this world, and so much opportunity to shed light on the truth.

A Note from Emma Dognin:

Last year, on my quest to join more clubs, I went to Newspaper Club’s Tuesday meeting. At first, I didn’t like it. I had no friends in the club, and writing an article meant raising my hand and loudly declaring I wanted to write about a topic. How embarrassing. Fortunately, a few weeks later, I came back after deciding to give it another chance. I quickly discovered journalism is a bridge—connecting people to each other and to the world. And now, I am a co-editor-in-chief of “The Orange,” the school newspaper.

Initially, I started writing book and movie reviews. The first article I wrote was about the movie “Priscilla”; I found myself taking a lot of pride in describing the details and aesthetics. Soon after, I wrote another article on book reviews, seeking the same burst of serotonin that came from seeing something I wrote available for others to read.

Then I transitioned into interviews. Interviews share the voices of the people and feed them to readers’ hungry eyes. I’m French American and always felt in between cultures, so I interviewed other multicultural students. I learned about other people’s cultures and found myself relating to them—even though their ancestries were from vastly different countries. I wrote about how people felt reaching the four-year anniversary of the pandemic and their experiences during it. I conducted a survey of students’ fears about school shootings and interviewed the head of security on how safety is managed—to comfort students in a time of national concern. I interviewed students from Songwriter’s Club about their songwriting processes and how long they’ve been involved in music.

I learned the importance of collaboration and interviewed an Olympic swimmer, who previously went to the White Plains School District, on her journey across the country to accomplish her dreams—alongside Kayla. We collaborated on reaching out to her and writing the article.

I also wrote about criminal justice issues such as the case of the Menendez brothers and the story of J.J. Velasquez, a man who served 24 years in prison under a wrongful conviction.

Sharing other people’s stories helps connect communities. There’s a special kind of unity that comes from understanding and relating to others—and no feeling more fulfilling than making people feel heard.

Before I knew it, I loved writing. I would come home and work on the various articles I had assigned myself before even starting my homework. Journalism gave me a larynx.

Naturally, after devoting hours to writing articles, I decided I wanted to major in journalism. I applied to NYU Early Decision and got accepted. I hope to continue pursuing a career in journalism—to spread the voices of the people in a world where news is increasingly censored and many articles are crawling with propaganda. Going to university in the city will open the doors for internships and work in journalism.

I have been told by many that majoring in journalism is pointless—that journalism is a “dying industry.” However, it is one of the most important jobs one could have. How would anyone know about the world without the news? Growing up, we are told that we should do a job that makes a difference in life. There is no better way to do that than through journalism, where you can create a voice for the people. While not all of us can find a cure for cancer, there will always be someone there to write about it.

You can spend hours talking to the walls about all your passions and frustrations, but no one may listen. With journalism, everyone can.

I am forever grateful for the day I decided to walk back into Room C126 for “The Orange’s” Tuesday meetings. These days, I am one of the first people to raise their hand to write an article—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My advice to incoming or continuing members is: Don’t be afraid to share your article ideas. Even though it can seem intimidating at first, don’t let fear stop you from discovering your passion.