From high school to higher education: Former editors-in-chief of The Lighthouse reflect on start of 1st semester

Nov. 13, 2024

By Zahara Chowdhury
Editor-in-Chief

During the previous school year, The Lighthouse’s former editors-in-chief Camille Echols and Emily Reed took on the responsibilities of assigning articles to their peers, laying out the newspaper and finalizing the publication before it went to the printer. Now, they have turned their focus in a new direction as they concentrate on coursework that prepares them for their future careers.

Echols is majoring in architecture at Pennsylvania State University in University Park. She said she selected this field of study because she was passionate about design in high school and found herself observing buildings everywhere she went.

Echols said of the five courses she is taking this semester, her favorite is Basic Design Studio I.

“Despite the stress and anxiety it causes me literally every day, I do the most interesting work in that class, and it challenges me every day as I learn how to be an architect,” Echols said. “It is a very hands-on class, which I like because I have always been someone who learns best by doing rather than hearing or seeing.”

Echols said she applies the lessons she learned at The Lighthouse in her classes.

“I have been putting my [Adobe] InDesign skills to use in my studio classes. The time management lessons [The Lighthouse adviser] Ms. Pastor taught have also been helping me out with my excessive amount of work,” Echols said.

She said the shift between high school and college was hard at first because she has to be her own boss and motivator.

“I have been doing my best to hold myself accountable and not get too far behind. I have struggled a lot due to homesickness and general anxiety about my completely new environment, but I have been getting better about it every day and even began attending counseling sessions provided by Penn State to help me with adjusting,” Echols said. 

She said her favorite aspect of college is the freedom and variety of classes students can take.

“It is nice not having to settle for a class I don’t want to take just because there’s no other option. In college, there [are] so many class options that I don’t have to feel limited,” Echols said.

“College offers so many amazing opportunities, and it is important to take advantage of them.”

Echols said she spends most of her free time doing studio work, but she plans to join the Creative Writing Club and get involved with the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, which provides information and advocacy services for Penn State’s LGBTQ+ community. At the start of her spring semester, Echols said she would also like to join the staff of Penn State’s student newspaper, The Daily Collegian, because she misses writing articles and laying out a newspaper.

Echols said her advice to LHS’ college-bound students is to take risks and prioritize self-care.

“Do not be afraid to try anything. There is no reason to limit yourself out of fear or anxiety. College offers so many amazing opportunities, and it is important to take advantage of them,” Echols said. “It is also important to give yourself a break…. You need to avoid getting burnt out, especially so early into your college career.”

Like Echols, Reed is pursuing her bachelor’s degree at a flagship state institution outside New Jersey. Reed, who is working toward a nursing degree at the University of Delaware in Newark, said her semester has been exciting and challenging.

“I have a difficult workload, but I have gradually gotten better at not procrastinating and getting my work done efficiently,” Reed said. “Living on my own was strange in the beginning, but I later got used to it.”

Reed said the best part of college has been meeting new people.

She and two other students share a suite in a Living Learning Community, where all non-honors nursing students reside. She said being a member of this community has helped her make friends with other nursing majors and create study groups. 

However, Reed said she misses her high school friends, many of whom she has known most of her life. 

“My college is big with around 23,000 undergraduates, so I miss the small community of LHS,” Reed said. 

She said her favorite class is Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology I Lab because of its interactivity.

“We dissected a sheep’s brain to look at all of the structures. It is extremely interesting but difficult because it’s all about memorization,” Reed said.

She said she does not have the time to commit to her school’s student newspaper, The Review, as the nursing advisor recommends students study for 30 hours a week. While she has not joined any clubs yet, Reed said she is interested in participating in the Women in Healthcare Club. 

Reed said current and future members of The Lighthouse should enjoy their experiences at LHS.

“Don’t wish the time you have [in] high school away. Always be positive and soak up all you can,” said Reed.