Growing up is truly a hard yet fulfilling journey.
As you grow up you’re faced with so many predestined paths, and as you go down each unique path, it almost always either evolves right before your eyes or changes to become something completely different that takes you to places you’ve never dreamed of for better or for worse.
In my own personal journey, my paths have always changed as I would go from interest to interest in hopes I’d find something that inspired my soul. It went from dance to tennis to STEM but soon enough a new path revealed itself, shining so brightly and showing so much warmth, and compassion. It’s become something that I treasure and hold close to my heart which has now become my path in literature, journalism, and the art of storytelling through writing.
To start at the beginning of my journey towards my time in the BullsEye and before my new path emerged, I have always been a person who has dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to every path and interest that has revealed themselves. Before literature and journalism filled my heart, I was determined to become a research scientist. However, it’s as simple as one moment of realization for your life’s trajectory to change. For me it was during the pandemic, where I saw violence among Asian Americans becoming rampant. As the violence was increasing, barely any news coverage was being taken on the subject, and I knew because the news became my stained glass window to the outside world. Through looking out of the stained glass, I saw people’s unique stories, different views on situations, and stories that connected with my soul in ways that nothing ever has. However, through every story that was presented the stories of being Asian American were lost to time, and I found a fire within me that wanted to change that and to tell stories so no one’s voice could go unheard.
So I took a leap of faith and I joined Journalism 1 (J1) in the second semester of my junior year, just as the current J1 students were gearing up to join the staff next year and have already gone through one semester of learning the basics and rules of Journalism. Going in, I had no prior knowledge of Journalistic writing or instincts and I instantly got so lost. However, it’s only when you’re lost that you find the most beautiful places.
Just from the warmth of a new path and getting lost, I gained friendships, knowledge, and ultimately the beauty of journalism. A kind of beauty that brings people together, forces you to bring out sides of yourself that are hidden among the rigor and diminishing nature of Diamond Bar High School and just the world, allows you to see deeper beyond what is presented, and ultimately gives voices to people and stories that get lost to time and the perfection that the world revolves around.
At this very moment I’m so proud to have been on the 2023-2024 staff of the Diamond Bar High School BullsEye, and to be able to call it one of my proudest accomplishments and one of my favorite experiences in my life. So to anyone who’s scared when their life seamlessly changes, embrace the change.