Student Cadence Goblirsch ‘27 Shares How Journalism Class at NDB Expands Her Horizons and Inspires Her Future Career

What is it like to be a serious journalist? Notre Dame empowers students who have a love for writing and generating stories to become NDB journalists through Journalism class, The Catalyst student newspaper publication and Tiger TV. The following is a reflection written by student journalism Cadence Goblirsch '27, who shares her experience as a student journalist at NDB:

"On my first day of Journalism, I went in with a positive attitude, reassuring myself that I enjoyed writing, and Journalism is just writing - right? I was wrong. It is so much more than that. As I sat in the classroom and listened to the Editor in Chief tell us the many things coming up for the class, I admit that I felt a little intimidated. At one point, I even wondered if I had made a mistake taking Journalism, or if I should have simply taken study hall. However, things quickly changed for the better. The longer I was in the class, the more I loved it. During my short time taking Journalism at Notre Dame, I have been introduced to a whole new side of myself. 

I love Journalism, because it makes me think. It forces me to come up with innovative ideas, and stimulates imagination. This class is unique, and different from any other class I’ve taken. Unlike math or science where there is always a set formula to do things, and always a correct answer, in Journalism it’s all about your ideas. Since we have to come up with original content  in this class, it forces me to set aside time to organize my plan. Before I begin an article, I have to sit and brainstorm for a while. I need to give myself time to gather my thoughts, and lay a foundation for my writing. Sometimes I literally just have to sit in silence, and stare at a wall, which I think might even scare my mom a bit. Since Journalism has brought up this new way of thinking for me, I find that now I am always coming up with new ideas. They come to me throughout random times in my day, one at a time, or even in such a rush of ideas that I’m fumbling for something to write them down on. This class changed how I think, and has made me think differently, which I love.

I love Journalism at NDB because it allows me to be creative. I have freedom in my writing, and I don’t have to follow a strict prompt - I can simply come up with an article idea and make it happen. No matter what, art has always been my favorite class in school, because I had the privilege to let my imagination run wild and create freely. I had so many ideas and so much inspiration in my head, and I felt that art class was my only outlet to turn my ideas into reality. However I experience that same level of creative freedom in Journalism. In the first few weeks of school, I built up enough courage to suggest an idea for Tiger TV, where students broadcast live news. The freshmen were asked what kinds of things we would be interested in seeing, and all I said was, “Maybe something about the food..?” This was the start of a new idea. My suggestion about food, sparked inspiration in someone else, and they suggested we do a feature video on A Day in the Life of Epicurean (Notre Dame's catering company). My point is, Journalism is a collaborative effort. We bounce ideas off each other, and make them happen. This class is student led, so we have the ability to come up with ideas and make them happen. I am proud to say that for the first time in my student career, my favorite class isn’t just art.

As journalists, we have this incredible ability to create change. We can influence people at our school, and anyone who reads or sees our work. Although we are just student journalists, we still impact the community, and have an opportunity to spread messages to readers. A journalist is a journalist no matter what. I love that I am in a leadership position, and I will never forget the accomplishment that I feel each time that I finish an article. I am proud of the work I have done, and I look forward to continuing it. This class never feels like a chore to me, as I enjoy what we do, and Journalism has shaped my future goals as well. When I am asked the famous question of, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I normally respond by saying I don’t know. That’s a big question for a 14-year old! But I have enjoyed Journalism to an extent that it has become a new dream career of mine. 

As I grow up, I’ve been noticing that I continue to discover new things about myself. It’s like a puzzle - when I find something I enjoy or learn something new about myself, it adds a piece to this confusing, “Who am I?” puzzle. I can confidently say that Journalism added a large puzzle piece, and I am incredibly grateful that I took this class. I am thankful for the people I’ve met, the things I’ve learned, and the work I’ve accomplished, but I am especially grateful that I took the summer P.E course which allowed me to take Journalism. Who knew I’d be happy that I woke up at 7 a.m. every morning for five weeks, and spent the majority of my day doing sit-ups and playing pickleball!"

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