Everything you need to know about Dr. Rasmussen's Journalism class

By Savannah C.

For the past two years, I have had the opportunity to participate in Dr. R’s Journalism 1 and 2 Classes. I can safely say that choosing this class is one of the best decisions I have made in high school. 

While many students aren’t aiming to start a career in the journalism field, I was. I knew this class would guide me in some incredible ways, and teach me some very valuable information  about what I have planned for my future. Even if you don't want to start a career in journalism, I feel as though everyone should take this class at least once in their life. Even though this class is an elective, you need these in order to graduate. Why not take an elective that is fun, but also teaching you valuable information. 

In Journalism 1, you can look forward to watching movies, reading serials, writing your own articles,  and participating in many different activities. As a class, we got to watch Citizen Kane, All The President's Men, and Newsies. We also got to read two very interesting  serials, Around the World in 72 days, and Angels and Demons.  Dr. R is extremely engaging with her classes. She starts each class with a bellringer  activity called On This Day in History. This is the time for students to learn about what has happened in the past on that exact day. Dr. R then gives the students a chance to participate in Jumble before they start their work, and on Fridays we learn about the current event of the week. Dr. R recently raised enough money fundraising in order to start a photography unit for her future classes, for those who have a passion for that as well. 

In Journalism 2, you are allowed to work at your own pace. Journalism 2 students are focused on writing their own articles at their own pace, but in time for the due dates. In this class, you are combined with the Journalism 1 students, and still have an opportunity to participate in what they are doing for some extra credit. What you can look forward to in Journalism 2 is writing a total of 7 articles,  making monthly polls, and creating your own podcast. 

I feel as though this class would be beneficial to any student who enjoys History, English, and journalism as a whole. If you are someone who is interested in current events, you would definitely enjoy this class. I have definitely learned a lot of valuable information in this class, and I feel like any student would take a lot from this class. Being a part of the school newspaper has really been important to me, it has also opened up many opportunities to me. 

My advice for anyone interested in taking this class would be to pay attention. If you don’t keep up with what is going on, you aren’t going to be successful in your classwork and tests. Stay off of your phone, not only because it is a state law, but also because you will find that your time will be used more wisely. Save your bathroom passes. You only get 3 per quarter, but, if you save them, you will get extra credit at the end of the semester. This is very helpful because if you find that you didn’t do too well on an assignment, that extra credit will come back to you. Focus on your articles, and make sure you get them done in a timely manner. It is important to have your topics planned out ahead of time, and make sure you know who you are looking to interview. Having all of these things figured out will help you get things done when they need to be. While some students may feel as though this is strict, as you get older you realize that your teachers are all on a mission to help you be better, and succeed.  

When asked what her favorite part of journalism class has been, Reagan S., said, “I liked learning about the different article styles, meeting some of my closest friends, and she's a really good teacher.” It is evident to many students past and present that this class has impacted their lives in a positive way. Not only is it just about the learning aspect, but it also impacts you on a personal level. 

When asked what advice he would give to any students looking into taking Journalism, Taylor P.H., said, “Be prepared to never take a day off.” I definitely agree with this, everyone should take into consideration that you will always be busy with work, which I feel is helpful for students. 

Dr. R truly does care about the success of her students, and she is very adamant about pushing her students to be the best they can be. She is extremely passionate about her job, and is quite encouraging to everyone. I feel like any student would benefit from having a teacher like this in their life.  As a Senior, I am sad that my time in this class has come to an end, but I am happy to take what I have learned these past couple of years with me in the future. This class has definitely impacted me in many different ways. 

If you would like to look into what Dr. R’s Journalism classes are on a daily basis. You can check out the Airport Newspaper, https://crasmussen6.wixsite.com/ahseyrie. If you would like to take this class, it would be in any student's best interest to reach out to their guidance counselor, and see if this class may fit into their schedule.