With the school year ending, it is also time to say goodbye to another batch of seniors. There seems to be something special about every class that ends up leaving, but there’s one star pupil that stands out: Dominic Taylor. After recently committing to Loyola University Chicago, with a focus in journalism, it’s only right to take some time to reminisce about his work here at Plainfield East.
Taylor started his writing with a few sparse stories about the school’s sports programs, and one video news piece on school recognition from the very prominent news channel, CBS.
His work started late in the first semester and had three more projects late in the second semester, where he mainly highlighted track and field and basketball.
He found his way to give attention to improvements being made to girls’ track and field and soccer, and a piece on basketball, where he interviewed Head Coach, Mr. Sakaria, and his view on coaching, and how he looks to make improvements to his team.
“I didn’t really see it as a career by any means, but it made me feel so important even though it was just a silly assignment,” said Taylor.
Transitioning into his second year being in the East Side News crew, he still wrote primarily about sports, even interviewing German professional golfer, Martin Kaymer, and covering the LIV tournament taking place at Bolingbrook Golf Course, arguably being his most impressive feat.
This is also the same year he got promoted to an editor, marking a new era for his writing. His rapid production of a wide variety of stories and his contribution to the Bengal Broadcast really solidified that this is what he wanted to do. Things really seemed to kick it into gear for him.
“I would see an idea for a story, and it would just be so hard to pass up,” said Taylor
In entering his final year of the East Side News program, he knew it was his last chance to learn everything he needed to, so he could take his passion into college.
“The point where I really decided I wanted to pursue journalism was the Princeton Summer program. I met so many talented and genius people and that’s when I decided I really wanted to be a journalist,” said Taylor.
In his final year of journalism, he made some major impacts on the field. He won a Blue Ribbon for his story “Tackling the stigma: mental health in sports” at the NISPA conference and took 5th place at the IHSA Journalism State Competition, ultimately earning a permanent plaque placed in the 300’s hallway.
“My proudest accomplishment was when I placed top five in the state, but I really am proud of my blue ribbon award just because the story I submitted for that was so impactful, ” said Taylor.
He often emphasized how much fun he had and how he wished he had joined in freshman year. He also enforced the idea of how wide and broad the category of journalism is.
“I don’t think there is a single reason not to join East Side News, I can’t think of a person who couldn’t do something with East Side News,” said Taylor.
With the school year ending, East Side News’ Editor-in-Chief is looking forward to continuing to write in the future as he hopes to join the Loyola University newspaper: “The Loyola Phoenix.”
“Journalism is all about what you put in and about doing things outside your comfort zone,” said Taylor “that is what produces the best stories.”
