By Lexi Kerzman
You could say I grew up in a newsroom. My mom worked as a reporter and an anchor for the local NBC station until I was in middle school. She tells stories about having to pick me up from daycare and then taking me back to work with her. Her former coworkers still talk about feeding me dry cereal in an edit bay while my mom did her live shot. When I got older, I loved going to work with my mom because it meant I could get a treat from the vending machine and play on her computer.
My mom left her television news career when my youngest sister was born. She said it was just too hard to work crazy news hours and raise four kids. But she never stopped writing; she’s taken writing jobs that allow her to be home with us while still using her talents and contributing to our family’s finances.
My mom passed her love of writing onto me and showed me that it is possible to make a living being a writer. I have always loved to write and I’ve been developing my writing skills by being involved with my school newspaper, the Hiherald. I’ve been on the Hiherald staff for the past three years and each year I fall a bit more in love with it and with a future in journalism.
My first two years on the Hiherald staff I stuck to mainly opinion columns. Both my sophomore and junior years I was editor of the opinion section. This was a huge step for me. Despite growing up around news people, I was very shy. In fact, I was so shy it was hard for me to say what I truly felt to anyone. But writing was different. Writing my opinion for everyone in school to read was easier than saying it. Writing a monthly column gave me confidence and taught me to stand up for myself and my beliefs. That is something I will always be grateful for.
Last year, my journalism advisor told me about the Al Neuharth Free Spirit scholarship. When she first talked to me about it I had very low expectations for myself. I applied anyway thinking it would be good practice for future scholarships. I had a tiny thread of hope that I might actually receive the award. To my surprise I won and had the opportunity to represent the state of North Dakota at the week long convention in Washington, D.C. last June.
Talk about a life-changing week. Prior to my trip to D.C., I knew I liked to write but I never thought I would be able to make a career out of it. Talking to successful journalists, like ESPN SportsCenter anchor Chris Berman, made me realize a journalism career is not some far off dream. I soaked up every bit of information given and learned so much about journalism during my time as a Free Spirit Scholar. But the best part is that I discovered my true self that week. By day three of the convention I knew I was destined for a career as a journalist.
I knew before I went to D.C. that I would be editor of the Hiherald this year. I had known since sophomore year that it was a job I wanted as a senior, but I wasn’t confident I would be a good editor. My Free Spirit experience gave me a new found confidence in my writing and in my job as editor. I had big ideas, starting with a Hiherald makeover. Over the summer I met with my design editor and advisor and together we created a whole new look for our paper. We stripped down the previous templates and created ones that we could be truly proud of.
Besides changing the look of the paper, I also brought back a monthly letter from the editor.
I had been watching my mom, who over the summer took over a magazine with one of her old TV news friends, and listening to them talk about how much they loved writing their editors’ notes every month. I did not want to miss out on the fun, so the letter from the editor returned. My mom was right; writing my letter is my favorite part of each issue. I love being able to write about the stories my staff members write each month. They deserve recognition for their writing and I’ve learned part of being a good leader is giving credit where it is due.
My job as editor consumes my life. I work on it before, during and after school, at school, and at home. My dad just shakes his head and tells me I’m just like my mom. Some of my friends think it is weird that I spend so much time worrying about a school newspaper, but to me it is so much more than just a school newspaper. I consider the Hiherald my job. As editor I feel responsible for any mistake or error printed. I am a perfectionist and I want every issue to be perfect. My friends and my dad don’t get it, but I have learned not to let that bother me. I am passionate about my job as editor and I’m willing to spend extra time making the Hiherald something worth reading.
They say the secret to choosing a job is to find something you’re passionate about and then it won’t feel like work. I feel that way about writing and about journalism. I dream about a career in journalism. It truly is my passion.
Lexi Kerzman
Lexi Kerzman is fighting a bad case of senioritis as she prepares to graduate from Bismarck High School at the end of May. Lexi will pursue her career as a journalist by furthering her education at the University of South Dakota.