I need to get back on the blogging grind. I know I say this every summer but this time I really mean it (hopefully). In my mind, if I have enough motivation to write a complete blog post at this hour when I am hitting a point of delerium, then I will have enough motivation to keep at it. At least that's how it works in my mind.
This post is a bit overdue, but here goes...
This past semester I had the wonderful pleasure of reporting in the city of Bell. Yes you read correctly, the scandal-ridden Bell. It has that bad reputation of being a typical city of mostly low-income residents who are controlled by the people at the top of the heirarchy of power and wealth.
But during my tenure in Bell, I did not see that city. I saw and met activists, city officials, laborers, students, and teachers who were working together to fight for a cause. It's a microcosm of dreamer and whenever I entered those city limits I felt a part of that dream. Through my reporting I felt like I was making a difference. Whether it was through reporting on an important story, or merely getting to know someone I interviewed, I hope I have made a lasting impression on Bell, somehow some way. Because it sure has made a lasting impression on me.
I don't know why got so attached to the city. Perhaps it's because it reminds me so much of Porterville. The small, dedicated group of underrepresented citizens is so reminiscent of home that every time I enter its borders I just feel that need to give back. I hope I do go back to Bell - whether it's through reporting or not - to see what this community has accomplished in the light of reform.
I learned a lot from my time in Bell - mostly about communities, journalism, and myself. Bell has really changed the way I think about life and shifted my goals a bit. I need to take some time and really think of how I can integrate my two passions of journalism and community empowerment for my career path (which will come in a later post).
Now that I am practically falling asleep on my laptop, this will be a farewell for now. Excuse any typos and/or grammar errors.