Clarke Central High School Class of 2020 alumna and former ODYSSEY Media Group Print Editor-in-Chief Naomi Hendershot poses in front of the OMG Trophy Case on July 21. Hendershot, a paralegal at a criminal defense firm in Decatur, Ga., reflected on her time in the program and how it prepared her for her career. “(ODYSSEY) gave me an idea of maybe what I wanted to do in the future, and maybe what my strengths were,” Hendershot said. “Three things that I learned were to have confidence in myself, even in the face of doubt, and learning how to work with others, and also learning to work with what you got because sometimes in life you won’t have what you need.” Photos by Iliana Tejada and from the ODYSSEY archives, story by Cesia Martinez
CCHS Class of 2020 alumna and former ODYSSEY Media Group Print Editor-in-Chief Naomi Hendershot discusses her high school experiences and how the OMG impacted her.
Outreach and Alumni Coordinator Cesia Martinez: What was your high school experience like?
Clarke Central High School Class of 2020 alumna and former ODYSSEY Media Group Editor-in-Chief Naomi Hendershot: I had a good high school experience. It’s pretty well- rounded. Nothing crazy. I made a lot of friends. I think I grew a lot as a young person, and did things outside of my comfort zone. Obviously, with ODYSSEY and all the things you do in ODYSSEY, (I) definitely felt well prepared for college life and adult life, and even now as I’m entering major adult life, getting a job and navigating that.
CM: What did you learn throughout your time in the ODYSSEY?
NH: I learned to have confidence in myself, and I learned how to work with others. I learned to work with what you got. My junior (year) through senior year, we had (the COVID-19 pandemic), so (I) definitely had to buckle down and learn to work with what we had, what resources were available to us, given all the limitations during COVID, how to make a magazine or make something during that time, especially when everyone was wigged out and super tired, and in general dealing with all the chaos that was going on in the world. (I learned) a lot of lessons about myself and who I was as a young person, that made an impact.
CM: Why is a program like ODYSSEY important to you?
NH: If you’re someone not super confident, like I was as a kid, it is a great way to highlight what you can bring to the table. I think a lot of high schoolers can definitely relate to that. You’ve just hit puberty, you feel awkward and weird, and ODYSSEY is a place where you can learn to be good at things. You can realize that you’re good at something and build off of those skills. So, I think it’s important for kids who just don’t feel like they have a lot to offer, because ODYSSEY will definitely show you what you have to offer and what you can provide for a program.
A gallery shows photos of Clarke Central High School Class of 2020 alumna and former ODYSSEY Media Group Print Editor-in-Chief Naomi Hendershot. Photos from the ODYSSEY archives
CM: What would you say was your favorite memory from your time in ODYSSEY?
NH: Some of my favorite memories were probably going to (the Southern Interscholastic Press Association convention) with everyone. You’re all together for three days, and you’re traveling to somewhere relatively far, and you have a lot of time to get to know people more than you would have during regular school hours or even those after school hours. And then also finishing a magazine. I think that was also one of my favorite parts. Just having it done, having it ready, and then everything to come afterwards, which was the awards. It was really exciting seeing people reading the magazine, and seeing that they were published in it. It was nice to see everyone’s reaction to what they contributed and what they had accomplished.
CM: How would you say you carried ODYSSEY into your adult life, and your current work?
NH: Management of deadlines for sure. There are a lot of deadlines in law practice that you have to make sure you’re keeping an eye on. Task management is a really big thing too. I noticed coming out of high school and being in those leadership positions, I had a better handle on managing my tasks. And dealing with difficult adults. Learning how to deal with someone who is expecting a lot out of you, and demanding deadlines, (and) demanding tasks. It’s very useful because they don’t stop existing after high school.
