As Sharon Bramlett-Solomon spoke to us this morning about diversity in our newsrooms, I found myself thinking of airplane patterns. But wait...give me a second to explain.
I was not just drifting off, worrying about my departure on Friday. I was thinking this thought:
"We are all here from somewhere. We have all been gathered together for a short moment in time. We have each arrived from all sorts of different airports, with all sorts of different baggage, and we have each arrived from different choices of life travels. However, WE ARE ALL ON THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER, JUST TRYING TO GET SOMEWHERE."
This thought could apply to so many areas of our lives. It could apply to our experience here at the Reynolds Institute for High School Journalists. It could apply to our American life. It could apply to our positions as teachers. It could also apply to our students...those young people who come to us to learn, the ones who are just trying to get somewhere in the life they have been given.
Shouldn't we all get there together, helping each other along...picking each other up at whatever airport in which we find ourselves, helping each other with the baggage we each have to carry?
I know for my personal situation, I need to do a better job in recruiting different kinds of journalism students. What about you?
Melissa Langlois
Whitewater High School
Fayetteville, Ga
Very well said, Melissa. I completely agree with you. My mind wanders sometimes during the lessons because I'm also looking for a connection and how it applies to me in my situation. So I don't really think you you're alone. Thanks for your insight!
ReplyDeleteMichelle Williams
Providence Catholic school
San Antonio Texas
Well said. I want to do better. Most of the students I get are on a track that requires them to spend a semester in CNS, so in many ways the diversity of my staff is a function of our school's diversity. But I need to do a better job of seeking diversity in positions for which I recruit.
ReplyDeleteSteve Elliott
Arizona State University
Phoenix