Addison Trail students get inside look into field of journalism through career experience with reporter

Addison Trail junior Pablo Puebla Jr. contributed to this write-up

On Oct. 27, Addison Trail students who are enrolled in the school’s Publications course had a special visitor.

Lucy Valeski, a politics and government reporter for The State (a newspaper published in Columbia, South Carolina), joined the class and spoke with students via Zoom.

People might recognize Valeski’s name, as her father, Michael, is an English teacher at Addison Trail.

Valeski is a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where she majored in journalism and political science. She also recently completed internships in Brussels, Belgium, and Lansing, Michigan, which provided her with a wealth of knowledge as she began her career.

During her presentation, Valeski offered insights into the field of journalism and provided advice for future writers and students in general. She also answered questions about the process of how to write a story, when to write a story and challenges that come along with the career (such as meeting deadlines and how to deal with writer’s block). When asked the best part of being in journalism, Valeski said she has been able to see and experience many things she might not have if she chose a different career. From covering campaigns to discovering water safety concerns, her job as a journalist doesn’t just give her new information about situations, but also gives her the opportunity to talk to different people.

This experience was part of District 88’s focus to foster strong partnerships to provide career-oriented/work-based learning opportunities for students. The district offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes credentialed career-based curricular tracks, more than 30 Advanced Placement (AP) college-level courses and more than 50 dual-credit and collegiate-credit courses in 18 career pathway areas, along with award-winning fine arts programming. The district is committed to providing multiple and flexible pathways for students to find post-secondary success and continues to expand access to college credits and industry-recognized certifications to help ensure students are college and career ready. District 88 is always looking to develop more collaborations, and those who are interested can find information at www.dupage88.net/BusinessPartnerships.