Student voices: Hardhats, humor and humanity: turning new faces into friends

As I entered West Hall on the first day of the High School Journalism Institute, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The writing aspect of the camp, I was prepared for, but spending a week away from home with strangers was a new experience. Duffel bag slung over my shoulder and key in hand, I fumbled with the door, wondering what I would find on the other side. Finally, the lock clicked, revealing the face of someone who I would soon come to consider a friend.

Curly auburn hair. Wire-framed glasses. A shy smile.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m Eliana.”

Prior to this week, I had not been without at least one of my parents for longer than a few nights. As my mom drove my brother and I over the Santiam Pass towards Corvallis, my excitement was clouded by anxiety. Would I be homesick? Would I like my roommate? Would I have people to talk to at dinner, or would I be doomed to a week of awkward silence?

It turns out, I didn’t have to worry. In the days since I arrived, I have had the opportunity to meet 19 incredible new people, student journalists just as passionate and shamelessly nerdy as I am. We have bonded over everything from school newspaper mishaps to shared hobbies and favorite books. Mealtime and the moments between workshops are filled with laughter, lighthearted conversations, and just a few (okay, many) complaints about the oppressive heat.

These past few days have been transformative in more ways than one. I met deadlines, participated in a mock press conference and made my first real attempt at photojournalism. I got a taste of the life I hope to someday lead, where journalism isn’t confined to evenings and lunch periods. But I also discovered a community unlike any other I have previously been a part of. I met a roommate who feels like an old friend, a writing partner whose questions get me thinking and a running buddy who didn’t hesitate to invite me along on her early-morning workout.

I’m certainly still homesick. But the rush of working towards a deadline, the clicking and clacking of keyboards in the newsroom, feels a bit like home too. The High School Journalism Institute is an incredible opportunity — to learn, to challenge myself, to write stories I’m proud of — but what I will remember most is the friends I made along the way.

— Lauren Shein, Summit High School

This blog post was produced by a student reporter as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University and other Oregon media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to