Bowling Green High School offers many future exploratory opportunities, and these opportunities are designed to promote and provide options for life after high school. Destiny O’Rourke, Bowling Green High School’s College and Career Readiness counselor, helps bridge the gap between students and their future.
“Students have several opportunities to explore future options. They have many chances here at BGHS to research and get interested in possible career paths, colleges or universities, and the military. Students can attend events like Ready Con or open lab day to explore these paths.” said O'Rourke.
But there are still many occasions to explore choices for post high school that are underrepresented. One of those opportunities is Xposure, a high school journalism workshop. Workshops are educational seminars and camps designed to give attendees a chance to create necessary skills for their future goals. Xposure is a high school journalism workshop hosted by Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The program is designed to teach high schoolers, especially those who are underrepresented in the newsroom, skills pertaining to all types of journalism. Although this program isn’t nationally advertised, the staff that decides who gets accepted into the nine day and eight night camp received many applications from all over the United States.
“We open applications to all high schoolers. Preferably rising sophomore, juniors and seniors. We get applications from all over the country. It is very difficult to narrow down the applicants.” said Chuck Clark, the workshop director.
Xposure students consider the workshop as being impactful.
“There were so memorable parts of Xposure from discussing who was the better female lead in the High School Musical franchize to heated political debates,” said Jaley Adkins, an 11th grader at Belfry High School in Belfry, Kentucky. She attended Xposure in June of 2018.
The staff that mentored the students the whole week also perceived the nine days as tough.
“Having to edit students’ work is probably the hardest part of Xposure for me because their pieces becomes their babies,” said Toni Mitchell, writing coach of Xposure.
Despite Xposure being described as an intense experience, the students as well as staff recall taking a lot away from it.
“The most memorable take-away from WKU’s Xposure workshop was the idea that we are all different...Aside from journalism skills and advice I received and treasured, the relationships with new people from other areas and backgrounds really influenced my appreciation of diversity in any setting whether that be academic or causal.” said Brennan Cain, a senior at Barren County High School.
Cain and Clark both commented on how a student can take their Xposure experience and apply it outside of the workshop.
“All skills learned from Xposure aren’t just limited to the journalism field. It can be used in many other ways. We have lawyers, teachers, politicians, etc that were once workshoppers,” said Clark.
Xposure is strongly recommended by all who are involved.
“I feel like Xposure is a real door opening experience for aspiring journalists and a perfect welcome mat for people who aren’t too sure of journalism but have interest into looking into it.” said Brody Rexing, a senior at Reitz High School in Evansville, Indiana. He attended Xposure 2018. Registration for Xposure starts in February and ends in April, and students who are picked are notified in May. All Bowling Green High School students are prompted to take advantage of experiences like Xposure to enhance the chance of a successful future.
By Anna Bryson
“Students have several opportunities to explore future options. They have many chances here at BGHS to research and get interested in possible career paths, colleges or universities, and the military. Students can attend events like Ready Con or open lab day to explore these paths.” said O'Rourke.
But there are still many occasions to explore choices for post high school that are underrepresented. One of those opportunities is Xposure, a high school journalism workshop. Workshops are educational seminars and camps designed to give attendees a chance to create necessary skills for their future goals. Xposure is a high school journalism workshop hosted by Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The program is designed to teach high schoolers, especially those who are underrepresented in the newsroom, skills pertaining to all types of journalism. Although this program isn’t nationally advertised, the staff that decides who gets accepted into the nine day and eight night camp received many applications from all over the United States.
“We open applications to all high schoolers. Preferably rising sophomore, juniors and seniors. We get applications from all over the country. It is very difficult to narrow down the applicants.” said Chuck Clark, the workshop director.
Xposure students consider the workshop as being impactful.
“There were so memorable parts of Xposure from discussing who was the better female lead in the High School Musical franchize to heated political debates,” said Jaley Adkins, an 11th grader at Belfry High School in Belfry, Kentucky. She attended Xposure in June of 2018.
The staff that mentored the students the whole week also perceived the nine days as tough.
“Having to edit students’ work is probably the hardest part of Xposure for me because their pieces becomes their babies,” said Toni Mitchell, writing coach of Xposure.
Despite Xposure being described as an intense experience, the students as well as staff recall taking a lot away from it.
“The most memorable take-away from WKU’s Xposure workshop was the idea that we are all different...Aside from journalism skills and advice I received and treasured, the relationships with new people from other areas and backgrounds really influenced my appreciation of diversity in any setting whether that be academic or causal.” said Brennan Cain, a senior at Barren County High School.
Cain and Clark both commented on how a student can take their Xposure experience and apply it outside of the workshop.
“All skills learned from Xposure aren’t just limited to the journalism field. It can be used in many other ways. We have lawyers, teachers, politicians, etc that were once workshoppers,” said Clark.
Xposure is strongly recommended by all who are involved.
“I feel like Xposure is a real door opening experience for aspiring journalists and a perfect welcome mat for people who aren’t too sure of journalism but have interest into looking into it.” said Brody Rexing, a senior at Reitz High School in Evansville, Indiana. He attended Xposure 2018. Registration for Xposure starts in February and ends in April, and students who are picked are notified in May. All Bowling Green High School students are prompted to take advantage of experiences like Xposure to enhance the chance of a successful future.
By Anna Bryson