Jessica graduated from Connections Academy in 2011. She joined ThreeSixty through our spring 2010 News Team class, participated in our Intermediate Journalism camp the following summer, and joined our Editorial Board for the 2010-2011 school year.
Jessica’s story
I first became involved with ThreeSixty when I joined the 2010 spring three-month orientation class. I had always had an interest in writing, but had never considered journalism as an option. In that time, my eyes were opened as we broke down the steps to being a true journalist.
ThreeSixty’s orientation class, along with their summer intermediate camp in June, has helped me discover the possibilities of a career in journalism. At an important point in my life, where I am surrounded by young adults who are overwhelmed by all the career paths available to them, I have been able to set myself apart by figuring out what I would like to do. ThreeSixty has given me the resources to expose myself to the multiple paths journalism could take me depending on my individual interests. I have been able to meet people in the business and hear their stories, along with proper guidance and mentors as I begin my own story.
Since becoming a part of ThreeSixty, I’ve been given many opportunities that I wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise. While at the intermediate camp, we had field trips to KARE, Minnesota Public Radio, The Star Tribune, and The Pioneer Press. The amount of mentors I have been able to meet in various fields has been fantastic. When I thought it couldn’t get any better, I was able to volunteer at the Don Shelby Roast.
I’m a believer in that everything that you want is just outside of your comfort zone. I’m naturally a rather shy person, but journalism has been great because it has forced me to leave my comfort zone. In journalism you often have to talk to strangers, and ask them questions you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
