My name is Annalese Thomas.
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I am a year 10 student at Maitland Christian School and over the past week I have been given an insight into life as a journalist through work experience with The Maitland Mercury.
Since primary school I have wanted to become a journalist.
I even started a family newspaper.
The front page stories included ‘Sister studying hard for HSC exams’ and ‘The washing piles up’.
Needless to say, it was a hit.
The opportunity to be in a room of people who have achieved the same goals I aspire to was a great experience.
The energy felt everyday was exciting and exactly what I thrive on.
I attended the news conference each morning where the team plans the content they will produce for online and print platforms.
I worked on stories and learnt from the journalists around me.
The highlight of my week was to do a front page story on an incredible pair I knew in primary school, Grace and Nick Ahrens.
They were first responders for a stab wound victim at Pender Place.
I interviewed them alongside Mercury journalist Nick Bielby and watched Lower Hunter photographer Simone De Peak take a photograph of Grace.
To recognise their heroic act and those of the volunteers in the St Johns Ambulance definitely added to the passion I have for this field.
I have also met the most inspirational people.
Conversations I have been included in have improved me as a person and exposed me to the potential good everyone can do for those around them.
I have learnt about how much excitement, spontaneity and importance is involved in working for a local newspaper.
To brainstorm leads, go out on breaking news calls and give publicity to the people in our area is what I want to do with my life.
I am so grateful this week has reaffirmed and added to that.
To brainstorm leads, go out on breaking news calls and give publicity to the people in our area is what I want to do with my life. I am so grateful this week has reaffirmed and added to that.
- Annalese Thomas
My advice to any young person nervous about going to enter the work place would be to have faith in your ability and take the risk.
I leave this week with a newfound confidence in the dream I have had since I was 9 years old, a vision for the future, and the drive to get there.