Jaycie Iha, Maui Waena Intermediate School
Hometown: Kahului, Maui
PBS Mentor Station: PBS Hawaii
Six-Word Memoir: Dreams don’t work unless you do.

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling?

Well, the way I got involved with storytelling wasn’t like most. First of all, to join the media program I had to be shoved through the door by my cousin to even go into the room. But, I stuck with storytelling and kept telling stories because last year I was a lot more shy, kept to myself more, but had big ideas and messages I wanted to share. I felt that a lot of other people were like this too, so if I were able to open up and tell the stories I thought were important, I could also find confidence along the way. As I was becoming the person I am now, I was able to motivate others while doing that. So, I got involved with storytelling to motivate others and find myself.

What story are you most proud of?

I don’t think I am most proud of any story. I feel like while making each story with different people, they each told different lessons and were all equally important to me.

If you could only bring 3 items to the SRL Academy, what would they be?

I would bring my journal to write down what I learn while I am there so I can look back at it in the future, my phone so I can update my mom and family and let them know how I am doing so she doesn’t get worried, and my camera so I can show my classmates what I saw and what we did when I go back home.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now?

I think that 50 years from now, a newsroom will look very different. Every device that uses wires now, won’t have wires anymore, everything will become smaller, thinner and easier to carry around, and all devices will be touchscreen.

Mary Oliver, Judge Memorial Catholic High School

Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
PBS mentor station: Utah Education Network
Six-word memoir: Challenges come, but I overcome them.

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

To tell a story is to spread ideas, information and emotions. I often find that I see the world through a different lens than most — I interpret it differently. I want to share what I see with others, but not just what I see. I want to expose people to ideas and realities that force them to step outside of themselves. 

What story are you most proud of? 

I’m most proud of my story about the SunzeeCar, because it required a lot of field work to get the interviews and it took a lot of teamwork and collaboration to get it to final production. It also focuses on the environment, which is an issue that a lot of people talk about, but most people don’t do much to fight the deteriorating state of our Earth. Talking to people who are really trying to make a difference was really eye-opening. 

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be?

My glasses, my computer and my quick wit.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

In 50 years? Who knows! Broadcast journalism might be done more in the field, or it might be done almost entirely from a desk. Computers in the newsroom will be smaller and faster, as will cameras. However, something is going to have to change because right now, media bias is running rampant at major news outlets, which means many people are only seeing one half of the story. Unbiased news stations like PBS are what the future of journalism needs. 

Mary Williams, Hughes STEM High School

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Mentor station: CET 
Six-word memoir: Take risk, be you, never doubt!

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

I got involved with storytelling because I love poetry and I feel like that is my way of telling stories. I also love to read. Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved discovering other people and learning about their lives. Stories can persuade people, they can create empathy and they can provoke emotion. 

What story are you most proud of? 

I am most proud of the story called “Cincinnati mayor aims to break poverty cycle in 5 years.” This story means a lot to me because it was the first story I worked on with the PBS NewsHour. I can feel a connection every time I watch the video. As a black female, I’ve seen my peers struggle with poverty and homelessness. This story really hit home for me, and I believe it was an important story to tell. Throughout this story, I sharpened my interviewing skills and discovered I have a real passion for conducting interviews and asking questions.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be? 

A camera because I love to take pictures and videos, my notebook because I love to write poetry and write down questions and my phone because I love communication and social media.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

In 50 years I believe that a newsroom might not be a room anymore. The news will be delivered less through television and more broadly through the internet spreading information to people through small technical devices that will be more accessible to people all over the world. I believe we will learn more through social media, since most people will get all their information from their phone or personal devices. Video and pictures will be an even more important part of storytelling and production. Most of our stories will be told through visual journalism designed for the web. Virtual reality, Google Glass and drone technology will change how the audience experiences stories.

Christian Peebles, Legacy Charter High School

Hometown: I was born in Maryland, but I was raised in South Carolina.
PBS Mentor station: South Carolina ETV
Six-word memoir: Art in motion, with new taste.

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

I chose to get involved in storytelling because I have a strong dislike of how most stories and news coverage are presented. In my opinion, it is very antiquated and tasteless, but I know that only my peers and I are capable of creating a new wave of storytelling. I’m a very quiet person, but when I am doing these stories I feel as if I can speak to anyone. That unique feeling of connecting to someone is also a gigantic reason I love the art of storytelling.

What story are you most proud of? 

The story that I most proud of is my most recent story which is titled, “Why is it our history?” This is a Black History Month story and this one is very personal to me because it relates directly back to my ethnicity.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be? 

My phone, my personal journal and my laptop. These three items alone are enough to make creative stories. My phone keeps me up to date on what’s going on in the world, and it could be used to record anything I need to. My journal is where all my stories are and this would be my primary source for questions and shots. Last, but not least, would be my laptop. This is where all the editing would happen, so it’s where everything is molded together.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

I think 50 years from now the newsroom will be filled with more minorities and more life.

Esmeralda Soto-Rendon, Vista PEAK Preparatory

Hometown: Denver, Colorado
PBS mentor station: Rocky Mountain PBS
Six-word memoir: So unsure, but eager to try.

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

I became invested in photography and I wanted to expand my horizons.

What story are you most proud of? 

I’m most proud of a poetry piece I created. Initially, I wanted it to be a simple story about our schools’ poetry club, but the story evolved into how poetry impacts poets.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be? 

I would bring my camera, my phone because that’s where I store most of my video ideas and my journal because I love writing about my observations.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now?
I think in 50 years a newsroom will be equipped with motion-activated cameras and drones that can be flown to different parts of the world, which would be able to deliver the latest news without the middleman.

Stefanie Gutierrez, Las Cruces High School

Hometown: Las Cruces, New Mexico
PBS mentor station: KRWG
Six-word memoir: I’ll never stop trying to help.

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

I’ve always loved storytelling, and being a minority from a small town in the U.S. made me feel like I had no voice. I felt weak and useless and that’s such an awful feeling. Storytelling gave me the opportunity to give others a voice to make sure they did not feel alone and voiceless. There’s something about telling other people’s stories that gives me so much joy. But I actually did not first choose to get involved in storytelling — I was thrown into it but immediately fell in love with it.

What story are you most proud of? 

I’m most proud of our cyber-stalking story. My entire team had practices for Nationals, STN crazy 8’s and our theme was “Information Overload.” We had eight hours to make an eight-minute show. Even though that entire story was made in five hours, the story as a whole was so impactful, and the people gave such deep stories it left a mark on my heart. I had never met any of those people in my life, but they opened up to my group and I, giving such emotional stories about their past. It was so eye-opening to see what others go through but shocking that they trusted me, a stranger to them.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be? 

A camera bag full of essentials, a notebook and the determination to get things done.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

As of right now, a newsroom is full of tons of cameras, lights and several reporting stations with a few people just to watch the whole thing. But 50 years from now, I believe a newsroom could look empty — camera and lights will be so advanced that they will be small with better quality. The top news stations will be so strong, small local stations could stop existing. Lastly, we have been losing human connection in news over the past few years to the point that in 50 years I worry about what type of news people will be interested in.

Darius Jones, Granby High School

Hometown: Norfolk, Virginia
PBS mentor station: WHRO
Six-word memoir: Play in dark, kill in light.

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

All my life I’ve been bullied and kept quiet. Storytelling was that voice I could use to express my pain and emotions.

What story are you most proud of? 

The story is titled “His Shelf” and it is a reflection of me as an older gentleman. The main character suffers from depression and PTSD as he looks back on the death of a loved one.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be? 

My phone, my artistic views and a vivid imagination of everything around me.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

Everything will be completed through the use of Apple products and the need for human labor will drop.

Becca Messner, Royal Oak High School

Hometown: Royal Oak, Michigan
PBS mentor station: Detroit Public Television
Six-word memoir: Create and find stories — tell them!

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

Whether you look for them or they approach, the world is FULL of stories. I got involved with storytelling because it makes me so incredibly happy to share ideas and shed light onto things that matter.

What story are you most proud of? 

I am most proud of my film titled “The Mailman.” It was a simple story with a deeper meaning that is personally close to me.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be? 

I would bring my camera, my phone and my wallet!

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

Fifty years from now, I think a newsroom will be full of paper-thin televisions and touchscreen monitors. I think everything will be automated and there won’t be a need for people.

Angelina Rueda,  Wauwatosa West High School

Hometown: Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
PBS mentor station: Wisconsin Public Television
Six-word memoir: “I’m confused” - Story of my life

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

It kind of happened by accident. I had a scheduling conflict, so I had to pick another class. I chose Media Communications. This class really helped me develop my skills, but it was only a one-semester class. The reason I didn’t leave when second semester started was because I enjoy hearing others people’s stories. I realized that this wasn’t just about telling “stories.” It was about educating people by sharing the experiences of other people. Though to be honest, I really just liked to play around with the equipment and experiment with new ideas.

What story are you most proud of? 

I don’t think I have a “most proud of” story yet. I’ve enjoyed the process of making each video, but I haven’t found a story that makes me want to watch it after it is done. I believe everyone wants to tell a story of importance and I still need to find the one I want to tell. 

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be? 

I would bring a picture of my family, because this will be the longest I will have been away from them. I would also bring gum because gum is life. Then I would bring my phone, because one the most important aspects of being a journalist is being connected. You can also take pictures to last a lifetime. Also as my memoir says, I get confused easily, so you know if I need help I can just call my mom.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

I think we will have advanced technology and no paper copies of the news. Also, I think there will be a lot less people in the newsroom. Technology will take over some of the jobs that once belonged to people, and you’ll be able to receive news faster than ever before. The one thing that won’t change though is the importance of reporters to share and process facts.

Brooke Kanna, Kauai High School

Hometown: Lihue, Hawaii
PBS mentor station: PBS Hawaii
Six-word memoir: Life is the best story yet!

Check out Brooke’s answers in the video below:

Nick Hinojosa, Etiwanda High School

Hometown: Fontana, California
PBS mentor station: PBS SoCal
Six-word memoir: I like to take fun seriously.

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

I want to tell stories because there are so many things going on in the world that so many people don’t know about and I want to show the world what they’re missing out on.

What story are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the “Wi-Fi on Wheels” segment that aired on PBS NewsHour last year.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be?

I would bring my Bible, a ton of SD cards because somehow I end up losing most of them and a pad of paper to express my ideas and imagination.

Angeline Abrera, Jersey Village High School

Hometown: Houston, Texas
PBS mentor station: Houston Public Media
Six-word memoir: See the good in all things 

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

I’ve always loved to make funny skits with my friends and my cousins. We would make up the funniest plots, characters and create videos. I guess that’s where it all started. Then came junior year. I chose to get involved with storytelling because I not only want to entertain others, but I found that I desire to inform people about something they don’t know about as well.

What story are you most proud of? 

The story I am most proud of is our New Arrival Center story about immigrant students.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be? 

I would bring my DSLR camera, my Polaroid camera and a journal, so I can write down what I learned and document my overall experience through the entire trip!

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

I think a newsroom will look like those offices you see in movies, where it’s all white from the walls to the ceilings and it has that clean, bright look. The monitors would be thin as paper and there would be no wires because I feel like by then, all of those would be gone.

Riana Teran, Etiwanda High School

Hometown: Fontana, California
Mentor station: PBS SoCal 
Six-word memoir: Small in height, not in personality

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

I chose to get involved in storytelling because I have always loved telling stories. To be able to get insight into someone’s perspective and have a hand in telling someone’s story is so gratifying. I’ve always had a knack for making up stories. When I put my little siblings to bed, I enjoy weaving a tale for them. Now, the difference is I get to tell people’s stories while using facts and awesome b-roll to provide riveting tales.

What story are you most proud of? 

A bit of me is proud of every segment I do. Whether it is the small segments on my school broadcast or huge STEM stories, I always have pride in all of them. I am most proud of the ones I finish myself, the ones where I put time in and edit. However, I haven’t found that one story I can call my “most proud story” just yet.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be? 

One of the three items I would bring to the SRL academy is my phone because I love taking pictures, notes and listening to music on it. I would also bring my stuffed parrot Pillow Pet that my best friend gave me because with it I can sleep comfortably anywhere. The last item would be a pony tail holder because I am constantly messing with my hair and putting it up in weird styles, plus whenever I am getting down to business I tie up my hair.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

Fifty years from now the newsroom will be more technology-based. Gone will be any paper or print news copies. Maybe there will be holographic broadcasts, a news story come to life so that the viewers get a whole spectrum of what the story they are watching is about. Jobs might be replaced with these technological advances, such as robots. However, I believe that being a storyteller will never go out of style, because even though 50 years from now robots might be able to tell the news, who would want that emotionless drone compared to a emotive human being?

Issac Hernandez, Cedar Ridge High School 

Hometown: Round Rock, Texas 
PBS Mentor station: KLRU
Six-word memoir: Challenges come, but I overcome them.

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

I chose to get involved with storytelling because of the amazing work I have seen others produce. I want to be able to leave people in awe with the stories I’ve told. I also want to be able to lend my voice for those who may not be able to speak for themselves.

What story are you most proud of? 

My favorite video that I’ve worked on so far has been my “A day in the life” video, which as the title suggests let’s the viewer go through a usual day with me.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be?

My cellphone would be a must, that way I can organize myself and stay on top of things. I would also bring a backpack to store my things, in case I try to get souvenirs. The last thing I would bring would be a camera of my own to capture moments in Washington, D.C.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

A newsroom in 50 years will probably have more computers than they do now. With the way camera technology keeps improving, I think cameras may be more compact, which will allow for better use of space within the newsroom. 

Ray Sipple, Cape May County Technical High School

Hometown: Cape May Court House, New Jersey
PBS Mentor station: WHYY
Six-word memoir: I wanna push my own limits.

Why did you choose to get involved with storytelling? 

Being able to share information and ideas with other people seems like an awesome thing, and I would like to get more involved with it.

What story are you most proud of? 

I’m most proud of the story I took part in at a Skills USA competition. Some of the stories included topics such as children in Syria, Trump’s inauguration, oil companies, corruption in Patterson, New Jersey and local high school basketball star Josh Wright. My favorite story was the one about Josh, because I go to school with him and know him very well.

If you could only bring three items to the SRL Academy, what would they be? 

Clothes, money and an open mind.

What do you think a newsroom will look like 50 years from now? 

I think that everything is going to be automated and very high-tech. All the cameras can be coded to follow the main person on-camera. The teleprompter will sense whether it’s going too fast or too slow and adjust itself accordingly. There are just an endless amount of opportunities that can happen in the future.