Proudest achievement

I did not have a traditional graduation experience with a gown and cap when I earned my associate degree in journalism from De Anza College in July.

Honestly, I haven’t even picked up my diploma, almost six months later.

Despite my disdain for the traditional trappings of academic graduations, earning my degree in journalism is my proudest accomplishment.

During my two academic years at De Anza College, including summer classes during 2018, I worked very hard for the college’s student newspaper, La Voz News.

Working for a student newspaper will always involve some fun times with new friends, but the work I did there was very difficult.

As a reporter, opinions editor, copy editor and business manager, I learned valuable lessons about what makes a publication tick and how to avoid common mistakes I saw in my own writing and other student’s articles.

I focused on journalism classes for most of my time at De Anza, but the main challenge I faced as a student was keeping up with general education classes while working for the newspaper.

Balancing tests in history, statistics and biology classes while spending hours in the journalism office every day and running around campus for interviews was stressful.

Although my experience at De Anza was often mentally taxing, my busy schedule taught me how to manage my time and prepared me for even more work to do at San Jose State University.

Hopefully, within the next two years I will have another degree, a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Jose State, which can replace my associate degree as my life’s crown jewel.