How has working on a student publication contributed to your personal development and success?
By Matthew Hofmann
“Matthew, don’t be papa sin sal.”
Across from me sat my British-born, Guatemala-raised grandmother Babu. Her tight, dirty-blond curls sat perched perfectly on her shoulders. She wore her iconic red lipstick, the same lipstick that had imprinted lip marks on the side of a glass she held in her hands.
She had told me this aphorism countless times before, but this time was different. This was my first “interview.” For my 8th-grade summer English assignment on my family history, I had to talk with a family member. So while visiting my grandparents, I took the opportunity to get the interview out of the way.
What was supposed to be a 10-minute chat turned into a deep-dive into her life, her favorite stories, and valuable Babu-approved lessons. I left the conversation in awe of her accomplishments and excited to share them with my classmates.
Little did I know this moment would inspire the most transformative and valuable experience during my high school experience: joining a student publication.
As I look back now, I reflect on what her words meant. Don’t be potatoes without salt. As a kid, I didn’t understand what she meant. I didn’t want to be a bland potato—I didn’t want to be any potato.
As I matured, I realized that her words were a call to action and, ultimately, a roadmap to a fulfilling life. Her message taught me the value of human stories in a life of leadership and advocacy, setting me on track to a life full of seasoning.
Fostering community through student leadership in journalism is my spice of choice and where I have found purpose during my high school career.
I have realized during my time on newspaper staff that powerful storytelling is a leadership tool. As a journalist, I have used my articles to challenge, empower, and unite my community while also expanding my thinking and driving personal growth.
A great example of this growth came from a story I wrote last year. Striving to build empathy within my community, I wrote about two classmates who each recently lost a parent during high school. Through that story, I learned about how families cope with and overcome loss. My story reminded my classmates and me that you never know what someone is going through—a reminder that encourages one to reach out, connect, and care for one another.
Furthermore, I have covered my community in unique ways as a managing editor this year, using my voice in column writing to inspire change within or celebrate underrepresented parts of my communities.
By writing day-in-the-life columns like working in the library or as an admissions tour officer, I gain perspective on new facets of school life. By sharing my experiences with my community, I can further unite the campus and inspire change in student appreciation of everything around us.
The full impact of my community coverage and advocacy was exhibited in an accomplishment for the school. When COVID halted snack sales in the student store, I felt campus life had lost its community hub. There were no parent volunteers, students no longer lingered, and the iridescent glow of Pringles and Gatorade was gone. Even after COVID restrictions were lifted, snacks didn’t return.
By combining my student advocacy with my journalism platform, I demonstrated my commitment to engaged leadership by writing a story on the student store to raise awareness and then a column that challenged the administration to bring back snacks and, more importantly, to reinvigorate life in the heart of St. Mark’s.
I was successful.
In response to my work, the administration reversed course and now the store is once again abuzz with laughter, chatting, and snacking. Parent volunteers have returned, students meet before community time, and faculty and staff connect with students as they shop for supplies.
Bringing back salty snacks added spice to my life by demonstrating the power of journalism in bringing people together.
As I look ahead to attending Williams College, I’m eager to immerse myself in a school with new goals and demands, and I’m even more enthusiastic about applying the lessons I’ve learned about leadership, advocacy, and curiosity from being on staff to a new community.
I’m excited for new journalism experiences fueled by an interest in my classmates and how these adventures will make me an even more effective and engaged leader.
These experiences will be new additions—new grains of salt—as I take another step toward living a rich and more fulfilling life of leadership…just as Babu would want.
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