By Hannah Lazarte
As a freshman entering Fountain Valley High School, senior Katelynn Luu noticed that people changed their attitudes after the COVID-19 pandemic brought periods of lockdown and isolation.
“People weren’t … back in that school spirit vibe … everyone was still learning how to socialize again,” Luu said.
Wanting to be more involved on the campus and bring together the Baron community, Luu joined Baron Banner as a sophomore.
“I was really just looking for … ways to be involved in campus, because I felt there [was] this disconnect,” Luu said. “I didn’t pay that much attention to school spirit days … So I feel like joining Baron Banner, where it’s literally our job to cover the news. I feel like I’m always so much more in the know, and I feel a lot more school spirit because I’m so much aware of all the work that’s being done in our community.”
Luu has grown in her years at Baron Banner, becoming a better leader and more confident in talking to people.
“I think the most growth I have seen in myself in this class is just like growing as a leader. I’m so much more confident in speaking to other people, even people I don’t know that well,” Luu said.
When Luu first joined, she mainly focused on writing but she soon found out she could also take photos. Starting by taking photos for sports events, she grew in confidence as a photographer.
“I also started doing illustrations for some articles. And then, with the skills I developed, I started taking more photos [and] I would always ask our previous photo manager for tips and Mr. Ziebarth was always such a big help,” Luu said.
Luu’s skill in photography enhanced and she soon became social media manager in her junior year. As social media manager, she created graphics on Baron Banner socials.
“I taught other people how to make [social media graphics] too. I’m actually really proud of that,” Luu said. “The way I went from always asking people and learning to being one of those people who was being asked and giving people tips on stuff.”
Her favorite part of being part of the school newspaper? The way that this community of students in the class supports each other.
“Definitely the way everyone works together … Mr. Ziebarth is just such a supportive advisor and I feel we can really count on each other and on him for everything,” Luu said.
Although Luu has never taken Home Economics, she has a love for knitting, sewing and baking. Currently, she’s been perfecting her chocolate chip cookie recipe and making it the best she can.
Co-presidenting with Josh Nguyen for the club Fountain Valley Icing Smiles, Luu helps in coming up with ideas for the club. Luu plans the events and activities, while Nguyen helps in making the plan come into action.
“I’m always like we should have this event or at our social [event], I think it’d be cool to do this. I’m always like, coming up with all these ideas, and he’s like ‘That’s such a good idea. To make that happen, we should talk to this person.’ So I feel like me and Josh worked really well as a team,” Luu said.
With the advice of “Just go for it,” Luu encourages people to join the class if interested in photography or writing for the school. Like Luu, this can be your way of bringing the Baron community together.
Luu’s dream for Baron Banner is to leave with all the staff being more confident in their writing and social skills.
“I want to … help [the staff] grow [into] that kind of sense of confidence [in] their writing, interview skills, people skills and foster a community here,” Luu said.
Looking forward to creating a community and something to leave behind, Luu is ready for her new year at Baron Banner.