Hover above to view videos on Sara’s campaign. Videos and Thinglink by Hannah Gale and Christina Kurian.
By ODYSSEY Online Staff – Suncana Pavlic, Jurnee Louder, Kaya Pollack, Aneesa Conine-Nakano, Hannah Gale and Christina Kurian. Story by Jurnee Louder.
ODYSSEY Newsmagazine Viewpoints Editor Sara Goodie, who is running for 2016-17 Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) President, discusses her campaign and her journalistic journey.
“I joined my journalism program in my school as a freshman and that was kind of unheard of at the time,” Viewpoints Editor Sara Goodie said. “So, it was me and another freshman girl, but the thing is her sister was the Editor-in-Chief, so she was already kind of ‘in the know’. I was completely out of my element.”
Sara began her journalism career in 2013. Joining ODYSSEY was a rocky experience for her originally. She transferred to Clarke Central High School from across town not knowing anything about journalism.
“(The first story I wrote was) on Governor’s Honor Program. It was a trainwreck. I had no experience with journalistic writing. I was super uncomfortable interviewing and talking with older students,” Sara said. “My Editor-in-Chief had to come and help me do the interview because I was just like choking on my tongue.”
Along the way, Sara found her place. Now, she’s running for 2016-17 Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) President.
“ODYSSEY has this thing where if we want something, we go for it. Kevin (Editor-in-Chief of ODYSSEY Newsmagazine) is Vice President right now and I thought, ‘Well, Kevin did it. Maybe he can help me out. Why not,” Sara said.
For the three years Sara has been on staff, she has attended every SIPA convention. As a freshman, she remembers how much of an impact SIPA had on her finding her footing.
“SIPA for me was when I really started to come out of my shell and made some really good connections with people on staff and on other staffs I got to see that we were really a part of something bigger than our school and ourselves,” Sara said. “It was really the moment when I knew indefinitely that I wanted to do journalism at least through high school.”
The connection Sara has with her peers is obvious. Every now and then, staffers can be seen smiling at Sara and shouting “Go Views!” or “Go News!”. Sara’s energy is infectious.
“I love her and even though she’s funny, she tries to let people know what needs to be done and what needs to be accomplished to make everything better,” ODYSSEY staff writer Bria Echols said. “I know she wants the best thing for everybody to succeed.”
Staffers even helped Sara organize her campaign.
“We had a brainstorming session (for slogans) with everyone on staff and they were like, “It’s Goodie to be a gangster!” and I was like, “No. No. We can’t do that one,” Sara said. “We had so many possible slogans. They were all awful.”
Eventually, “It’s Goodie to be a gangster” transformed into her new slogan– “Goodies Got It.” For support, staffers are using the hashtag, #GoodiesGotIt on twitter as promotion.
“It is awesome because we can all rally together for one common cause. It is just a really fun opportunity for everyone,” Sara said. “Everyone is connected and that is such a good feeling. I feel so supported and I feel like it is unifying us.”
Anyone looking from the outside in can see Sara’s love for journalism. Every football season, Sara works at least 12 hours, manning ODYSSEY’s concession stand at the UGA games. Her parents have even noticed the change in her personality.
“I really have become as mature as I am today because of this program. I’ve learned how to work under stress. I’ve learned how to work with people a lot older than me and a lot younger than me,” Sara said. “I’ve learned not to patronize people. It is so so important for people to always feel valued because everyone is here because they want to be.”
Staff writer Kendall Griffin, who works with Sara on Viewpoints staff, believes in Sara’s ability to be SIPA president.
“I think she is relatable to the student body. So, I think she would represent us well but also represent the community of people who work hard to make a positive influence and she would be overall a great president,” Kendall said.
