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One of the things I look forward to every year is the Multicultural Journalism Workshop.

It's a six-day journalism camp for high school students, sponsored by the News & Record. They learn to report and write news stories in sessions led by staff reporters. That week, the students work toward producing their own newspaper - a 12-page publication they get to name themselves. This year, the students named their paper "Fresh Ink." It includes stories about youth involvement in gangs, youth interest in this year's presidential election and Muslim teens. They wrote music and movie reviews and editorials about lowering the drinking age and school dress codes.

It's an intense week - 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. - and everyone is exhausted by the end of it. But it's one of the most rewarding things I get to do here.

When I started helping with the workshop in 2000, I developed a newfound respect for teachers. How do they have the energy to run a classroom all day?

I still remember my first group of students. One of them was a reporter here for a few years. She now teaches English at Dudley High School. Another student wrote some columns for our editorial page after the workshop. One young lady who went through the program four years became a mom last year. I had the honor of attending her baby shower. I see her every now and then. She still wants to go into journalism.

It's cool watching them grow up.

Another young man, who also went through our workshop during high school, was an intern and reporter here. I believe he's now working at a paper in Florida.

Yet another young man recently graduated from UNCG. He had his own campus radio show during college, worked in our sports department and got a gig with mtvU - MTV for college campuses. He's now a producer for the popular "Wild Out Wake Up Show" that airs weekdays on 102 JAMZ.

The other day I ran into a workshop alum who said she was glad she participated in it. I remember her article about belly dancing. This summer, she's a translator for Spanish-speaking immigrants and refugees. Next year, she plans to study in Spain.

Once I received a handwritten note from a young lady, a few years after she attended the workshop. She wrote that it had helped her prepare for college and that it made an impact on her.

These interactions and updates mean more to me than they'll ever know. I remember most of the students, even if I can't recall their names. I probably wouldn't be able to recognize some of them now.

The 15 students we had this year were collectively the brightest we've had since I've been involved with the program. They were hard-working and eager to learn. They were also extremely appreciative. Many of the students thanked us for accepting them. Several of them acknowledged the work we were doing. We were on a budget, so we cooked some of their lunches ourselves. They thanked us often.

I occasionally find myself becoming one of those adults who complain about "the young people." The younger generation doesn't know the value of hard work. They're lazy. They're not as smart. What's wrong with them?

But after the workshop each year, I come away with genuine respect and affection for the students we get. How do we get such cool kids? They're funny, really smart and polite.

They also remind me of why I wanted to be a journalist.

We tell them to consider journalism if they're curious and they like to write. They get to meet a lot of people and learn new things. Each day is different. And they get to inform the rest of the community about what's going on.

I know that most of them won't go into journalism. There's a difference between writers and journalists. Some poets and writers just aren't cut out to be journalists. It's good to discover this sooner than later. If just one student decides to pursue journalism, that's the best we can hope for.

Is it worth all that hard work and energy for just one recruit?

Absolutely.

Contact Tina Firesheets at 373-3498 or tina.firesheets@news-record.com