If you had told me a year and a half ago that I would be an avid, obsessive sports viewer, going to an in-state school, and double majoring, I would have thought you were crazy.
In my junior year of high school, I had created a very clear-cut path for myself. Go to an out-of-state college. Major in history. Get internships at either the Carnegie or Smithsonian museums. Graduate. Get a job. That was the direction in which my life was flowing.
In my senior year, I resumed my role as 42Fifty’s Photography Editor. I began going on more assignments for the Marching Band, putting me in the setting of sports events that I would never go to willingly on my own. This was a fissure in the ground, letting more flow around me.
Music and dance (as a sport) have always been a really big part of my life, but I disliked other sports like football and baseball. Although much of our time was on a football field, being on assignment for Marching Band felt natural, and I eventually became more comfortable at football games. I was able to join in on the fun of the game when I was not doing on-field photography.
I grew up watching sports games on TV with my mom, but as I got older, I stopped watching sports for years, as I was more focused on my dance career and wanted to fit in with the girls on my team. However, on Sept. 24, 2024, Taylor Swift was spotted at a Kansas City Chiefs football game. This opened the floodgates, and just about two weeks after my 18th birthday, I was fully thrown back into watching football. The dam just fell.
This rekindled love for football put some perspective into my life that I could do what I love, photography, while also having a good time in the environment that I enjoy, sports stadiums. My resurgence into watching football sparked a new interest in other sports as well. I began to develop an interest in baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, and more.
As I’m entering the next phase of my life, I see myself finding solace in sports. I’ll be on the Roosevelt University dance team, attending all home football and basketball games. I will also be in Chicago, a city with a high sports influence, and will be able to attend more professional games than in the past.
I have hope that the next four years of my life will be the foundation for being in a career field that I look forward to being a part of. Whether that is broadcast, photo, or written sports journalism work, I am thankful to OH and our journalism program for giving me a foundation for my future.
This program has allowed me to be more fluid in my plans, but it is definitely not the only reason. I always mention my journalism experience when people ask me why I chose my path, but I also always talk about my dance and theater community filled with people who have helped me grow in ways I never imagined.
The biggest thank you to every producer, director, stage manager, choreographer, vocal director, and stage hand that I have ever done a show with. You guys are the reason I am a well-rounded person and believed in myself enough to change my path.
Allowing myself to be fluid and open to change this past year has changed me in ways I’ve never imagined. I have some of the best friends I’ve ever had, I have a group of girls that I am so excited to be in college with next year on our dance team and I have the best support system anyone could ask for. Fluidity and flexibility in plans are the biggest reason I am where I am today.
Hi I'm Ruby, I am a Senior here at OHS and it is my second year on staff. My activities here at the school include Choir, Rho Kappa, BIONIC, and Youth and Government
