TAS students attend journalism convention in San Francisco

Student journalists from different states and other countries listen to a lecture about the impacts of social media. [AMBER

By Amber Wu (‘23)

Taipei American School (TAS)’s Blue & Gold, yearbook and film students attended the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) National High School Journalism Convention in San Francisco from April 20-22.

The semiannual convention, which takes place in different states every time, draws students from across the U.S. and other countries interested in newspaper, online, broadcast, yearbook and magazine. Over the course of three days, students are offered hundreds of workshop sessions led by professional and student journalists and advisers, as well as chances to receive media awards, including the Pacemaker Award, the most distinguished scholastic journalism award. Students are also able to receive critique from experienced journalism advisers to improve their publications.

The TAS convention attendees enjoyed broadening their perspectives on media through interactions with other journalistic peers.

“One of the highlights of the trip was the media swap shop as I could share and look at other people’s yearbooks with other yearbook editors and members,” Yearbook Editor Ariel K. (‘24, she/her), said. “Not only was I able to share how my publication worked, but I was also able to gain different tips from the other yearbook editors and learn more about different layout formats.”

“The workshops in the convention were really interesting because the people presenting allowed me to think about approaching film in different ways,” Sydney H. (‘24, she/her), a film student, said. “I enjoyed listening to people sharing their different experiences and interpretations of the media.” since pre-COVID-19 years, it was also the first trip to the U.S. for several students, allowing them to notice the cultural differences between Taipei and San Francisco.

“The lifestyle in San Francisco is so different to the lifestyle in Taipei as people are more relaxed,” Richie H. (‘23, she/her), who had never been to the U.S. before, said. “Everything is so spaced out as well, so it’s less of a tight-knit community than the one people in Taipei are in.”

TAS students will have the opportunity to attend the workshops and interact with other student journalists in Kansas City next spring.

Not only was the trip the first one journalism and film students went on

“I have never been to the Midwest, so it would be really interesting to experience what it is like there,” Ariel said.

A blast from the past: seniors will return to Camp Taiwan

By Victoria Hsu (‘24)

Back in lower school, students would travel to the Camp Taiwan campsite in Wanli District, New Taipei City for a couple of days of activities and excursions around the area. Activities included games like tag, rock climbing and making smores.

Now, the 2023 class officers have planned a trip back to Camp Taiwan on May 29 for any seniors interested.

With the 2022-2023 school year coming to an end, Taipei American School (TAS) seniors are preparing to graduate without COVID-19 restrictions for the first time in two years.

With the pandemic dominating most of their high school lives, many students felt that they were unable to experience some of the class events their older peers had gotten.

The idea of traveling back to the Camp Taiwan campsite first came up in a meeting between the class deans, Mr. Luke Walker and Ms. Meagan Frazier, and the administration.

“The Class of 2023 has missed out on important community traditions and experiences earlier on at TAS due to COVID changes,” Mr. Walker said. “From this thought, came the question: ‘is there anything we can do for them?’”

Seniors who have been attending TAS since lower school will get to reminisce about their lives prior to high school before graduating.

Students who transferred to TAS after lower school will get to experience Camp Taiwan for the first time.

“I think I’m most excited to go back on the Giant Swing,” Candice H. (‘23), a senior who is planning on attending the event, said. “I remember that was the most exciting part of camp back in lower school.”

This trip is the last whole-grade event that will happen for the seniors before graduation. The excursion is optional but the 2023 class officers hope that everyone will be interested in attending.

“We hope everyone can connect with each other before we all go our separate ways,” Tyler L. (‘23), one of the class officers, said.