24 05

WJI 2021, Day 7 AM - Friendships Thrive

Arriving at WJI, there were twenty-five people from across the country who I did not know. I was nervous no one would want to get to know me, but the day of the Tulip Festival quickly changed my perspective.

Katherine Futch and Christina Grube talked and got to know who I was and what I brought to the table. The day of the festival we exchanged phone numbers to ensure we wouldn’t get lost in Orange City, Iowa.

Going our separate ways, we all found ourselves hitting a wall of discouragement at certain times. But we all encouraged each other with uplifting words of wisdom that altered our mindsets. After finishing a reporter's daily work, we met up and explored the town of Orange City together.

Eight days later these two have been by my side. Whether they help edit or simply provide the laughter I need to survive these two intense and sleepless weeks. World reporters did say at the beginning, you not only discover the elements that come with journalism, but you find friends who stay connected and possibly travel together after the program. I firmly believe these two incredibly talented women will thrive in the future.

As of today, at WJI, future journalists ingested, reflected and focused on the positives and negatives of their broadcast clips. Although it may be embarrassing to watch yourself on the screen, it is great to see the courage displayed by my classmates. They overcame whatever their weakness may have been.

Personally, the nerves were definitely there for me, but you must come to realize that we learn and grow from this experience. Yes, it's an awful first cut, but there is always room for improvement, especially if you have motivating friends to uplift you. So, don’t cry, don't be sad, instead take those suggestions and continue on. Remember to have faith in yourself, but most importantly have faith in the Lord. He will never leave or forsake you.

-Abbi-Rae De La Rosa