The Ink is happy to welcome Lola Barta as its summer intern, who will be reporting from local streets. She’s an incoming junior at Truckee High School and is a budding wordsmith and photographer. In her sophomore year, she became lead editor and photographer for the yearbook, which is usually a 12th grade position. Lola aspires to go to Chapman University with a major in journalism; we look forward to helping her achieve her dreams. Let’s learn about this driven young woman.
What calls you to work with words and images?
When I was younger, I never thought I had the time to express what I truly wanted to say. I was supposed to be an accelerated scholar, but I didn’t enjoy the narrow focus on math. As I reached high school, I left that path and started doing what I wanted: putting my thoughts into words. I struggled a lot during freshman year, but I found yearbook. In that classroom, I started focusing on my photography, and I discovered I was so intrigued by its intricacy. As sophomore year approached, I realized that with writing, my words just flowed. Having a writing outlet, whether it be my thoughts or a local story, is when I feel I can be myself. It feels natural; it’s what I want to be doing.
What are you looking forward to in this position?
In this position, I’m looking forward to growing my skills. I’m mostly self-taught, with lots of advice from my mom on basic journalism, but I have never been in a formal business environment. I want to better my skills for both the yearbook and my career. I’m also excited about the friends I’ll make through this publication, both my associates and readers. I want to improve for myself but also, so people are informed with accurate information.
What advice do you have for your fellow high schoolers in terms of landing an internship?
I would tell fellow high schoolers to put themselves out there. When I first started writing, I had no idea I would fall in love with the art. As I started talking about it more, I realized all the opportunities available and that others share my passion. Work on improving your skills, but also learn to work with others; it’ll make you stand out. Journalism is more than just writing; it’s about connecting with strangers and finding untold stories. If you want to improve your writing, you have to take the criticism and build on it.
Why is journalism important in the world today?
In today’s world, people are so attached to their phones and short messages on Snapchat that the true essence of words has started to diminish. Journalism spreads information around town by compiling bits from different sources and presenting them in a way that helps people understand a story and sparks conversation. Writing allows us to share our thoughts with the world. Without it, the world would lack opinions and neglect facts. Even if you’re writing for your enjoyment, I believe it helps mental health, as thoughts are put onto paper and you can truly understand what’s going on mentally.
