When I first joined the Grizzly Cub Network, the studio was a storage closet. Assignments consisted of funny videos that were filmed on small, decade-old cameras that fell out of the jankety tripods that were supposed to hold them. Yet at some point, the hard tile became carpet, and chairs were labeled with a GCN logo. Not only did our equipment change, but the people in my classes did too. There was a subtle spark of creativity, and new students enrolled in this program that many had once been a part of as an “easy A.”
The silly charm of this program stayed the same, though. We have matching t-shirts and fancy equipment, but we still laugh hysterically at student parodies of football games that are set in the school bathroom (i.e. Toilet Bowl 2: The Final Flush). We still applaud violently when students get their driver’s license or when they finally show up to class for the first time in a while. We stand on chairs when we have good ideas, and write on the whiteboard when we can’t seem to think of new content. This class has always been a moment to let my creative side free, and I am so honored to have been allowed to let my passion for journalism flourish. I haven’t always been particularly interested in sports media, but in a place like this, that is okay. You are allowed to write about things that interest you, and you are allowed to make music videos for songs that people have never heard of before. Even more: you can win a state award for it. Things that seem the most mundane and silly can be recognized at a community-wide level, as the content you once thought was stupid could be featured on the next corporation newsletter.
The Grizzly Cub Network is truly a bear that has not yet awoken. We have the capability and equipment to do far more than our current system. My biggest hope for this program is that a group of passionate students finally seizes these opportunities for everything it has to offer. Mr. Hankins is willing to support any creative pursuit with the highest enthusiasm, as long as it “ends up actually being cool.” And realistically, anything can be cool with enough effort. So take charge, come up with the wildest ideas, and actually do them. Fly to France for an hour if you have to. Make the most of this time and don’t leave this program with a “should have.”
