Emily Estrada, a rising senior at the Maywood Center for Enriched Studies, is always finding new ways to grow through journalism.
After starting her career in ninth grade as the photography editor of the MaCES paper, Wolfpack Times, Estrada said she’s eager to become the editor-in-chief.
“I’ve always wanted to be editor-in-chief. Ever since I stepped foot into that class, I was like ‘That’s what I want to do’,” said Estrada.
As a freshman, Estrada served as the photography editor for the Wolfpack Times, later becoming the sports editor for both girls’ and boys’ athletics. She is currently the managing editor and will step into the role of editor-in-chief this fall.
When Estrada was planning her high school classes in eighth grade, she said she was encouraged by her English teacher, Rocio Garcia, to apply to the high school’s journalism program. Joining the class as the only freshman was nerve-wracking at first, Estrada said. But, through the support of her friends and peers, she fell in love with it, as evidenced by her writing one of her favorite articles for the paper.
“There was this story that I wrote about a soccer player… He was so good,” Estrada said. “But I think it was when I talked to his coach and his teammates. They all praised him, and they were like, ‘he’s a wonderful teammate,’ ‘he’s a great athlete,’ ‘he’s a great student.’ And I think just getting to see others’ views on him made it one of my favorite stories.”
Jacqueline Ochoa, Estrada’s godmother, said she’s known Estrada to be an amazing writer and is proud of her achievements.
“She’s resilient, ambitious. She’s tenacious and disciplined, and has so much to give to the community,” Ochoa said. “I think there are so many things about her … and I think that she has everything that a journalist should have. She’s so inspiring to other little girls who are growing up, and I think that that’s going to develop into a bigger and proactive type of young lady.”
When she isn’t writing, Estrada enjoys visiting the beach with friends and family, listening to music, trying new matcha recipes, and watching YouTube videos. Estrada also enjoys TV shows and movies, with some of her favorites being Gilmore Girls and Harry Potter.
When asked about her favorite characters in Gilmore Girls, Estrada found it hard to choose just one, narrowing it down to her top three: Lane, Luke and Logan. As for Harry Potter, Estrada chose Neville Longbottom because of his wisdom and his cozy vibe.
Estrada said she’s enjoying her internship at HS Insider and looks forward to becoming a better writer while learning from all the amazing reporters out there. She’s also looking forward to writing her piece on lead contamination and the effects it has brought to the Maywood community. After the summer internship, Estrada said she hopes to bring back what she learned to Wolfpack Times this fall while applying to colleges with an intended major in creative marketing and minor in journalism.
“I really want to strengthen the skills that I already have, and be able to use them in the future,” Estrada said. “I think it’ll be a good experience to have that teaching moment with [the students] and be able to help them throughout their journey and be the support that they need.”
