Q: What made you want to join the Horseshoe?
A: “I enjoy being creative. I enjoy the idea of having fun and just take a period to relax and more or less, build something instead of doing work.”
Q: What is your job in Horseshoes?
A: “I’m the assistant financial adviser. Basically my one friend, Haley, is the financial adviser, and under her, my job is more or less to make sure that the book is within budget, so we don’t go over and spend too much money. I’m also in charge of making sure we have ads from businesses around town so that way we can have money in the account.”
Q: Tell me a story of your greatest hunting experience.
A: “When I was 11 or 12, I went with my dad somewhere around Altoona in the woods, and we were walking through the woods, and my dad’s phone died. So we had to run to get back to the truck because it was starting to get dark out, and we actually had a bobcat following us for a while. So we ran through the woods through random paths that we didn’t take to get there, and then eventually we came out to where the truck was and probably 50 or so feet from the truck was a very big buck. I got the opportunity to shoot it. I got to complete a very awesome experience.”
Q: Since there is AI now, how do you think that will change journalism?
A: “I think AI could have a very positive and a very negative impact on journalism. AI is good for more dissociative writing. I think that to have the emotion and to get the sort of feeling that somebody witnessed something and wrote about it in their own experience are two very different things.”
Q: In what ways could we make journalism greater?
A: “I think that a lot of news or important information can be relayed. And I think that in order for journalism to be better than what it is now, more people will do it and for people to do it with a little bit more passion and determination.”
Q: What plans do you have after HS?
A: “I’m going to be a full time electrician, and I’ve never been one that really wants to do college. I didn’t plan on doing anything other than that.”
Q: If you had your own magazine/ news writing line what would you call it?
A: “It would be about the effects of energy drinks. I’ve been really interested in that for a while. I drink a lot of them, but I also know that they have very negative effects. So probably just awareness about caffeine consumption and how to manage it.”
Q: Why do you think Mountain Echo and Horseshoe are needed?
A: “I think they are needed because it’s important for the school. It allows people to get access to information that they wouldn’t really otherwise know. It gives students the opportunity to actually approach journalism from a real-life perspective.”
Q: What ways does it impact the students here at Altoona?
A: “I’ve seen several students that didn’t know something, and they saw Horseshoe and knew something that they hadn’t known before. Also seeing people that are in Horseshoe who love the experience of being able to do real-life journalism.”
Q: What are things that would make Mountains Echo/Horseshoe better?
A: “More people, not a lot of people want to do it because they don’t find it interesting, and they don’t see the use for it in society.”
Q: What advice would you give to young ones who want to do journalism?
A: “Don’t be scared to be passionate about it.To be able to successfully be a journalist, you have to commit to it. When it comes to journalism, you’re either all in or you’re not doing it. So I think that people just need to put more of their hearts into it.”
Q: What tips and advice would you give to people who want to start weight lifting and getting muscle-shape?
A: “Don’t be afraid to go to the gym. Many people worry about being judged, but most are focused on themselves and not paying attention to others. It’s important to do your research and understand what you’re doing. Be open to feedback and willing to learn; if someone offers correction, accept it and adjust accordingly.”
Q: What skills in Horseshoe can you use in your life?
A: “Communication and how you talk to people and approach people.”
