Over the last year and a half, I have worked at The Clarion. I have been privileged to have met and known so many wonderful people, whether my fellow coworkers or the people I’ve interviewed for articles.
As a Sport and Wellness major, I never really thought I would get myself into student journalism while I was enrolled here. I remember walking to the library after classes one day and saw the office and how they were hiring. As a previous two-year AP English student, I asked myself “Why not?” and picked up an application. They would call me back for an interview and the rest is history.
In the course of my tenure with The Clarion, I have seen and heard so many perspectives on many fascinating topics, such as 9/11, the Coronavirus, Asian-American discrimination and so much more. I’ve explored many of the different opportunities Sinclair has to offer, including the Fruitvale Station movie and discussion and Project Read.
Even though I’ve started to decrease the number of articles I have written, I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to write for Sinclair’s student publication. I have found great interest in hearing what people have to say through this job and to research interesting aspects of what Sinclair, Dayton or the world has to offer.
When I walk across the stage on May 6, this job and the opportunities I have had with it will never be forgotten. I have learned many skills that can even help me when I enter the workforce for my permanent career. As entering this job as someone who had never been a reporter before, I can for sure say my writing skills have especially improved and grown in the year and a half I have had.
If someone would have told me at 12 years old that I’d be a working reporter while going to school, I would have been shocked. I have always had a passion for writing and telling stories, but I never thought I would have an opportunity to write stories as a job until I came here and it saddens me that it is coming to an end. However, I will always keep writing on, even if it’s no longer published.
To Taylor, Richard and Ayzha, you three are such fantastic editors and I cannot thank you both for all that you have done over the course of my year and a half employment. I have grown as a writer because of the three of you and I will forever be grateful for that. You all have allowed me the opportunity to explore such great and interesting topics and I will never forget the ideas that you have given me to write.
To Jess, thank you for allowing me to keep pursuing my passion, even with all of the craziness I had going on. I apologize if I have not been the best student employee but I really enjoyed the opportunity I had to write and to cover such interesting stories. You’ve mentored me and guided me through my employment and I will miss you.
To my fellow reporters, graphic designers, etc., thank you all for being such great people to work with. I would have never thought I would continue my journey here at Sinclair with such a great group of people and I have had a blast working with you guys. I wish you all the best of luck in whatever your future holds.
To anyone I’ve interviewed, no matter student or faculty, thank you for giving up your time to allow me to ask you questions about events, your profession, issues, etc. You all have helped me put such wonderful and interesting articles together. I have enjoyed collecting insight from all of you and am grateful to have learned from you.
And finally, to you, the reader, you have been the root behind what I do and have inspired me to continue to be the best writer that I can be. If it was not for you, my articles would have been much different. I will miss the opportunity to have been a published reporter because of you and hope that my fellow and future reporters of the Clarion will continue to provide great articles for you. I hope you have enjoyed reading my articles as much as I had writing them.
I, Jackie Kasner, reporter, will now officially sign off. I wish the best of luck to The Clarion and its staff in the years to come and thank them for such a wonderful opportunity they have given me.
Jackie Kasner
Reporter