Taking the Lead

By: Jazmine Basa

A group of children rush around the playground—their tiny sneakers click against the floor as they run around. The playground consists of bright primary colors and shiny slides and monkey bars. There’s the occasional scratch or rust on the playground, but perfection isn’t a necessity here. One of the children proposes to play a game, with leaders individually assigned to different teams.

Back then, as a child, the role of “leader” was merely a title. Back then, the leader was just the “coolest kid.” The definition of a leader was simpler. Now, as the current (2019-2020) editor-in-chief of YB Warrior Times, I find leadership more complex than that.

Prior to becoming editor-in-chief, I was an editor in YB Warrior Times. I edited stories, left suggestions and that was it. When I finished early, I joked around with peers and finished some homework. For the most part, the role seemed natural to me; I’ve proofread for numerous essays before, been in (not to flex) advanced english classes all my life, and enjoyed writing as a hobby.

As far as I was concerned, editors-in-chiefs checked on people, but had time to themselves. There was the occasional announcement or two, but they were fairly short, only providing feedback. My acquaintance at the time, Itzel Hernandez, planned to pursue the role senior year, and encouraged me to do the same.

Hesitant, but interested, I decided to join her.

As senior year rolled in, I pursued a bigger fish: editor-in-chief, and--to my surprise--got the role! I felt the least qualified for the role; I assumed most people depict me as scary, shy, and strict.

My co-editor-in-chief, Itzel Hernandez, and I were hyped up--it feels good to take on the role as a leader. But it’s a harder role than it appears, not to mention the role was more interactive this year.

Everything was changing this year, and it wasn’t what we expected. Itzel and I admittedly underestimated our role.

“I knew the responsibilities that came with being editor-in-chief because I did see it did require a lot of extra work and extra responsibility as compared to as a writer or an editor,” Itzel explains. “I did underestimate the role a bit. I did think it was going to be a little less hard to be exact--a little less work.”

Although I don’t carry this task alone, I wouldn’t underestimate the amount of influence one has as a leader. The website is updated monthly—which sounds like a long time until you understand the process.

According to jobhero.com, “Editors in chief manage and oversee the content produced for publications or websites. This job is well suited to people with strong business acumen, excellent writing and proofreading skills, networking and interpersonal skills, and the ability to guide a team towards business goals.

This isn’t too far off in a student-condensed role as well. We are expected to play a plethora of roles—be the jack of all trades.

It starts off with making the new seating chart for each month. As easy as it sounds it’s more of a puzzle.

You cannot have too many peers in a singular table because sometimes they can distract each other, postponing work, affecting your role later on. BUT a bunch of strangers shouldn’t sit together either, because the table gets awkward and uncomfortable. No one likes being in a table full of social anxiety and silence. You have to communicate and get to know each and every individual student to get the best results—learn all their names, and take note of their friendships in the class.

Expect backlash and the tint of passive-aggression occasionally, but understand you did your job as unbiased as possible, and it’s arranged for the sake of their grade. It’s nothing personal, and as a student, you understand wanting to sit next to your peers. However, as a leader, you have to take note of their grade. I mean, logically, if you’re held back for a class you wouldn’t be able to graduate with your friends, right?

You have to be the bigger person a lot. Again, being the leader isn’t being the “coolest”—It’s instilling hope and guidance, putting them before yourself. It’s normal to be conflicted over this.

After that is done, we guide the class through potential story topics, facilitate story sign-ups, and talk privately to indecisive students. Then, we get into the writing process—where we are expected to walk around and aid students.

We are (occasionally) not given time in class to write our own stories, meaning we would have to do it at home. I hated all of my stories prior to December 2020 because they were built on a due date and exhaustion. Then, Itzel (my fellow editor-in-chief) and I have to read and comment on the story editor’s stories. This particular process repeats until the editors complete their story entirely.

Then, we edit 20+ stories. We communicate with writers missing things such as photos or a title in their story. If finished, we sign them off. If we feel a story is completely unready, we send it back to that writer’s editor. We decide who gets on the website and who doesn’t; it’s again nothing personal, but there’s standards we have to hold. We communicate with layout and design, who format the website as they plop finished stories onto the website.

The YB Warrior Times (google) website—which the layout and design team and editors-in-chief designed (2020).

We also substitute anyone simply not doing their role—such as editors or layout and design—due to said person being busy, or unresponsive.

Then, if writers have any flaws they notice in the posted stories, they tell us, which either is corrected by layout and design, or us.

On top of all that, we are expected to interview people and write our own stories. This also excludes the homework and tasks outside of journalism. Itzel and I have personally stressed over this particular task. When people slack off or do not communicate truthfully why they are—to work something out—God, it kills us. We have AP classes, college applications, tests, UC essay applications, senior projects, jobs, and individual roles outside of the class and school.

For a week or two, I shut everything out and felt the worst part of me get out--someone full of hate. I began to hate the class temporarily before taking a break. At the end of it, I forgot my personality, and lost my humor when talking to peers. I was drained.

I do not recall this instance—surprisingly—but according to Joey it was “definitely around December.”

My boyfriend, Joey, reassured, “I definitely think that it’s justified [to be stressed], because a lot of journalism is working together with the people around you. It’s not just one person writing everything—no, no, that’s not how journalism works. As someone who has been leading teams for esports and stuff—and those are just five people, this is a whole class—no way is it easy!”

Yet, despite all the work behind the role, being editor-in-chief plays an influential role in my character. Prior to the role, I feel I always avoided leadership. It felt like something out of my field, for people who are more tolerable and social than I am. An extrovert’s job, if you will—not an ambivert’s job.

Nevertheless, I made numerous friendships I didn’t anticipate, and it’s not just my personal experience alone.

“I made so [sic] much friendships during this role—something I’m so thankful for, ‘Cause as a shy person, I would not even talk to no one.” Jacky, an editor-in-chief for 2018-2019 says. “I wouldn’t have friends or anything like that. Like I wouldn’t have the guts to go up to somebody and say ‘I really like your story, good job!’”

Despite leading in our respective years, Jacky phrases this experience in a way I personally relate to.

In comparison to my junior year, I consider myself more reserved. Being editor-in-chief forced me to be the conversation starter—I had to ask people if they needed help and insist I’m there if they needed it. I made friendships with people I never expected to befriend—mainly underclassmen I always assumed differed in humor.

I became close to Itzel, whom I considered an acquaintance prior to taking up the role. We laugh constantly and it’s difficult to remain silent around her—and I'm thankful for the mutual responsibility of Journalism for that.

Not to forget, ambiverts and introverts are actually just as worthy of the role.

However, they’re just as capable as extroverts are: “Ambiverts are successful leaders and they truly lead us. Ambiverts are those who are neither introverts nor extroverts. They tend to border somewhere in between,” states Industryleadersmagazine.com. “So if the task requires a somewhat strict leader who needs to talk less and observe more, an ambivert will be exactly that.”

Furthermore, Inc.com states introverts aren’t necessarily worse at leadership. They just differ in skills and tactics. They’re good listeners, observant, aware of fellow introverts, more focused, and problem-solvers.

Some living proof of this is the aforementioned editors-in-chiefs Itzel (2019-20) and Jacky (2018-19).

Whether an ambivert, introvert, or extrovert, It’s an amazing experience to help students strengthen their voice. Although I wouldn’t take credit for doing so--I’d more so thank the students themselves for allowing such vulnerability in a classroom--it’s something to be truly proud of.

I recall the start of the year when things were new. I barely knew anyone in the class--they were all new faces, new people. As the year went on, I read loads of stories that tell me who they are; their beliefs, their families, their hopes and dreams. My role allowed me to know everyone in my class by name, as well as their respective stories.

And at the core that’s what stories are about, right? People, humanity, lives, perspective--life.

To be a part of something that encourages students to speak their truth means a lot. It’s always been my personal goal to help people express themselves. I’ve always grown up learning expressions are dangerous to oneself, that it’s harmful to be unique. With things like children calling each other's interests (unironically) “cringe” every ten seconds, it’s a nice change of pace.

I know now that this role was stressful, but that’s how life is. The most stressful thing about being a leader is keeping that childhood fantasy of being perfect, but life isn’t like that. But I suppose it doesn’t have to be that complex either; like journalism, you can find relief in simply speaking up.

“Leadership is not a one sided relationship. It's a bicycle, or a tandem bicycle, whatever works as an analogy,” Joey explains. “If one person or wheel is unwilling to cooperate or listen, the whole bike falls apart, not only hurting the function, but hurting others who might actually be trying.”

Being a leader is hard work, but it’s worth it. For those considering it next year I recommend giving it a shot.

It’s worth it.