Up Front - Taking a step back in memory lane

Emily Plihal
Express staff

I just finished writing one of the articles in this newspaper, and a memory from Grade 9 Language Arts class was brought back.

My teacher at the time gave us an assignment to create a mock newspaper. This project was to compile a variety of print and pictures (created by the students) into a newspaper format.

I remember being so excited that I was actually going to be able to create a newspaper. Since I was quite young, I have clipped stories and pictures from a variety of magazines and newspapers. These stories were normally of my favourite sports teams or huge events happening in the world (I have a whole scrapbook dedicated to 9–11).

As I was sitting at my computer, remembering my teacher and how much her assignment may have influenced my career choice, I realized my passion hasn’t been reduced in the least.

Despite a very hectic schedule, I try to watch the news at least once each day. I also catch up on the latest breaking stories on Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun’s web sites.

This former teacher still works at Georges P. Vanier High School and I am sure she still manages to influence her students at the level she’s influenced me.

Technology has changed, and so has my outlook on life. However; the basic passion I found, well over a decade ago, is still alive and strong.

I have not kept a copy of every newspaper I’ve ever been a part of, but I still keep some articles that moved me when I wrote them.

Rest assured, my project from Grade 9 is still sitting in a safe place.

Funny enough, I can remember more about my high school teachers than my college professors.

Perhaps being from such a small, yet vibrant community allowed me to have a closer relationship with my teachers.

I think teachers, parents and community members are the greatest influence on children as they choose a career path. I often wonder if my family had stayed in South Dakota if I would have taken a completely different path in life. I would have had teachers whose values, religion, ideals, and upbringing were different.

Tom Brokaw is from Yankton, a city just southeast of where my dad was born. My dad has always idolized him, so would I have still chosen to be a reporter?

Instead of being consumed with NHL hockey and curling, would I be obsessed with baseball, college football and NASCAR?

I think we live in a wonderful province and great country. The opportunities that have been awarded to me because of hard work and determination may never have been available in the very small state of South Dakota.

My teacher’s faith in my writing and potential in a literary field sculpted my decision to take up professional writing.

How much influence do we have on our future doctors, lawyers, tradesmen, and other professionals?

With the ever-changing methods used in different professions, how can we possibly know what field they will be successful in?

I’ve often critiqued our youth for their lack of determination and work ethic, but the truth is they are just very young. I’m sure each generation has had their downfalls, our youth is just overwhelmed by the amount of information at their fingertips. I just hope they realize talking to the elders in our community will provide a plethora of very helpful information that could help sculpt their futures.

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