Generally, it’s a policy at newspapers (at least, the respectable ones) to avoid things that “toot your own horn.” Basically, be graceful and modest when covering your community. But I think the story I’m going to tell is grounds for a little “tooting” of our very own Herald’s horn.

A generous donor is giving Herald newspaper copies to students in a journalism class taught by Gayl TenEyck at Poulsbo Junior High School.

In turn, the students have been reading articles, studying the writings of our very own reporters, including mine — and imagine my surprise when I was asked to come in and talk to Mrs. TenEyck’s sixth period class about “what it’s like to be a reporter.”

First off, as a journalist, I think it’s highly important to offer journalism at a young age to students. The lessons it can teach are invaluable. I think Mrs. TenEyck — who works in the trenches aspiring young reporters — sums it up best.

“This class has made the kids more aware of their world,” said TenEyck. “These kids have a voice and they want to be heard.”

Before my visit to the class, every student wrote a letter to me asking questions about my profession and seeing if I could take some time to drop by the class for a chat. These letters really made my day — heck, they made my whole month.

By the time I was ready for a visit, I was pretty nervous. Would I say anything that any of the kids would be interested in? Would they have any interest at all?

I went in there and told the kids my own story and their attention span — something I never even had in junior high — was amazing. I think that they were actually listening and — dare I say it! — they might have been enjoying what I said. Though only the students truly know for sure.

I told them my motivations for becoming a reporter: that I liked to write, ask questions and learn new things. Therefore, my career path followed those lines.

I threw in a few cliches: “Do something that makes a difference in someone’s life, no matter what you do,” and so on.

But the real sense I got from the kids was that some of them had found a niche in journalism. Some of them were like me — lovers of stories, of probing questions, of “getting to the bottom of things.” Finding out what is real and what isn’t.

That’s what I think matters most. And some of them did, too.

“It’s the whole issue of relevancy,” said TenEyck. “If they see Poulsbo Junior High School stories, it makes sense and is real to them.”

It makes me feel good knowing kids at PJH are using our newspaper to learn. And that other schools: Spectrum Community School, North Kitsap High School and even at a couple of the elementaries — our Herald is embraced as a teaching tool. And that those who use enjoy it.

“The Herald has been an incredible tool for me,” said TenEyck. “Absolutely invaluable.”

I’m really falling in love with this community — especially, as I am the education reporter, the schools and all those folks associated with them. North Kitsap is an extremely welcoming place.

And thanks especially to those kids at PJH — it’s nice to know that I can, and do, make a difference sometimes. Generally, it’s a policy at newspapers (at least, the respectable ones) to avoid things that “toot your own horn.” Basically, be graceful and modest when covering your community. But I think the story I’m going to tell is grounds for a little “tooting” of our very own Herald’s horn.

A generous donor is giving Herald newspaper copies to students in a journalism class taught by Gayl TenEyck at Poulsbo Junior High School.

In turn, the students have been reading articles, studying the writings of our very own reporters, including mine — and imagine my surprise when I was asked to come in and talk to Mrs. TenEyck’s sixth period class about “what it’s like to be a reporter.”

First off, as a journalist, I think it’s highly important to offer journalism at a young age to students. The lessons it can teach are invaluable. I think Mrs. TenEyck — who works in the trenches aspiring young reporters — sums it up best.

“This class has made the kids more aware of their world,” said TenEyck. “These kids have a voice and they want to be heard.”

Before my visit to the class, every student wrote a letter to me asking questions about my profession and seeing if I could take some time to drop by the class for a chat. These letters really made my day — heck, they made my whole month.

By the time I was ready for a visit, I was pretty nervous. Would I say anything that any of the kids would be interested in? Would they have any interest at all?

I went in there and told the kids my own story and their attention span — something I never even had in junior high — was amazing. I think that they were actually listening and — dare I say it! — they might have been enjoying what I said. Though only the students truly know for sure.

I told them my motivations for becoming a reporter: that I liked to write, ask questions and learn new things. Therefore, my career path followed those lines.

I threw in a few cliches: “Do something that makes a difference in someone’s life, no matter what you do,” and so on.

But the real sense I got from the kids was that some of them had found a niche in journalism. Some of them were like me — lovers of stories, of probing questions, of “getting to the bottom of things.” Finding out what is real and what isn’t.

That’s what I think matters most. And some of them did, too.

“It’s the whole issue of relevancy,” said TenEyck. “If they see Poulsbo Junior High School stories, it makes sense and is real to them.”

It makes me feel good knowing kids at PJH are using our newspaper to learn. And that other schools: Spectrum Community School, North Kitsap High School and even at a couple of the elementaries — our Herald is embraced as a teaching tool. And that those who use enjoy it.

“The Herald has been an incredible tool for me,” said TenEyck. “Absolutely invaluable.”

I’m really falling in love with this community — especially, as I am the education reporter, the schools and all those folks associated with them. North Kitsap is an extremely welcoming place.

And thanks especially to those kids at PJH — it’s nice to know that I can, and do, make a difference sometimes.