I spent most of this year writing articles and editorials about world news for Crown.  If you didn’t know that, well, it doesn’t surprise me that “Around the World” isn’t the first section everyone jumps to when a new edition comes out.

Why is this?  The easy answer is that news just isn’t the most exciting thing for high school students.  At this point in our lives, there isn’t a lot we can do about global conflicts, besides read up on them, *snore*.  Nevertheless, I devoted most of my time this year to writing stories about major issues, from the Ferguson riots to global terrorism to International Women’s Day.  And I loved it.

So while some may skip the hard news and political drama that saturate NBC and the Chicago Tribune, all I wanted to do was investigate and report it.  Here’s why–

This may come as a surprise, but there’s more going on in the world besides pep rallies, jeans for greens and Panther athletics.  I am not discrediting these issues or the articles Crown has written about them, because if they are important to the student body, then they are important to Crown.  What I wanted to do this year is try to instill this same passion that students have about issues within our school, to issues around the world.

Many of you already have this passion.  I see it in history and English classes, even in conversations throughout the halls.  Regina girls understand the significance of events such as the Ferguson riots, or even everyday politics.  I’m not going to lie, this can even bore me after too long.  That is why it is so important to begin to read up on world news in high school; this is where lasting opinions and foundations for ideology can be molded.  While politics can be mundane, they are vital to navigating the society we live in today, where politics and the positions you stand on issues can come up over lunch or in a meeting.

When I was four, I loved playing dress up with my mom’s old high heels.  I’d walk around with those giant hats ladies wear on Easter Sunday. It made me feel like a grown up. Analyzing hard news makes me feel the same way (minus the red lipstick I smeared across my face).  Now that I am older and understand those fancy terms reporters use, I can have conversations with adults and other teens about more than just the weather.  Being able to do this not only builds your reputation and earns you respect, but it also prepares you for the real world where exchanging ideas and collaborating are part of everyday life.  Plus, you might just earn a few brownie points with some teachers.

I believe that every Regina girl is capable of doing what I love to do — informing myself about global events, forming an opinion, and defending it.

There is one last piece of advice I’d like to leave as you with: have faith in yourself.  Inform yourself about the subject and form a clear, strong basis of where you stand.  In high school, there are many factors that can sway your opinion, from the media to our peers.  As I said when writing about Ferguson, it’s OK to be on the majority side of an issue as long as you fully support it.  On the other hand, don’t be afraid to defend an unpopular opinion, whether it’s in a classroom or with your friends.  Be open and attentive to ideas, but know where your values lie and stick to them.

So next time you’re at the dentist’s office, skim over the newspaper before reading about the latest Kardashian drama.  You don’t have to write a dissertation about everything you see, but it is important to have a general knowledge of what’s happening in the world.  A little bit every day can go a long way, and I promise that the satisfaction, even if not immediate, will be incredible.

Thank you for a great year, everybody!