Freshman Christina was terrified of stupid questions.
Journalism 1 was the class my counselor encouraged me to take after I mentioned I liked to write. I remember walking into C102 for the first time and nervously taking the first seat I saw, in front of the C102-05 Mac. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting to have to talk to so many people, for it to be—at times—the class I worried most about, and I definitely wasn’t expecting that seat to be one I would consider my own for the next four years.
From day one, doubt began to creep in. I remember asking questions and getting back simple, few-word answers. I remember being too afraid to ask follow-up questions. I have always feared judgment and being considered a burden, and asking ‘stupid questions’ felt like the worst way to ensure that nightmare happened. In everything, it was fear that held me back, but ironically, I think it was also fear that allowed me to continue with Wingspan and ultimately gain confidence.
When I started my book review blog, Every Book Has A Silver Lining, I wanted to highlight the good in every single book and encourage reading, no matter how substantive it was (or wasn’t). It was often quick to read, ‘turn your brain off’ books that got me out of reading slumps. It made reading approachable and less intimidating.
Then, with two friends and staff members, Nidhi and Natalie, I stepped in front of a microwave and into the equipment room where our podcast was born. We weren’t good cooks in the slightest, but that was the point. Only through those recipes made with a school microwave did that preliminary fear of cooking dissipate. Like other things that I wasn’t familiar with, cooking intimidated me, but the podcast—Wingspan—changed that.
I was completely taken aback at the end of freshman year when Higgins suggested I continue with Wingspan. Whenever I struggled to meet a deadline or panicked about a story, that decision to say yes has never been one I’ve second-guessed. I truly want to say thank you for that. As grateful as I am for the mentorship and the Survivor discussions, I think that the message encouraging me to sign up for Newspaper on my last story ideas sheet is the one thing I’m most grateful for. To me, it signaled a confidence in my abilities that I didn’t share at the time. It was something I needed and will forever think back on.
It’s Wingspan that made talking to strangers not as scary as I thought it was. So much so that now, I have friends tease me about how eager I am to ambush strangers with random questions or interview requests.
Beyond what I learned, it was the people who made Wingspan unforgettable. Wingspan brought me years of incredible staff, supportive editors, and a friendship I consider one of the closest in my life. To my past and current editors, thank you so much for the support. Sankeertana and Lea, especially, I’ve relied on you so much and have so much respect for both of you. To Nidhi: I wish we had exchanged more than a few sentences in freshman year. I couldn’t imagine Wingspan without you. To Mr. Higgins, here’s a second, more official thank you. Thank you for the interesting discussions (this year in particular) and for creating one of my favorite places in the school.
I will always be grateful for the role Wingspan has played in my life. It’s truly been one of the best opportunities I’ve ever had. If this were a book review, I’d say Wingspan is for everyone. For fans of writing and digging deep into stories, or those who fear talking to people and asking stupid questions, you’ll learn a lot. I know I did.
