As a teacher, there are students that just stick out to you for various reasons. Usually behavior (great or not so great) is the first one, followed by skill level (differentiation) and possibly leadership/personality traits. Jackson stuck out to me when he arrived in 6th grade because he had a confidence in his gait, a calm demeanor and a crazy level of access to the technology in the building because of his leadership in The Black Shirt Crew. This group of students helps our auditorium manager run events with sound, lights and videographer streaming at both athletic and music events. Jackson had such high capabilities with this technology that he was running events as a 6th grader for our elementary schools’ assemblies already!
Fast forward to his high school years and he has taken both Photo 1, Photo 2 & my Social Media course. He has taken his photographic skills to work and earned a paycheck, covering Girls State Basketball & Wrestling for our local newspaper as well. So, when his mom contacted me to photograph him for his Senior Year, I knew we’d be in his home away from home: the NPAC.
Jackson has a back-stage pass to all the performances our district hosts, so while we easily accessed the sound board, the cat walk was a bit of a different story! Imagine the narrowest spiral staircase possible in very low light, carrying light equipment so that it’s not pitch black in photographs. We were very much “writing with light” on these! You’ll also see more of Jackson later in the summer – we had to get into the auditorium before it was closed for renovations this summer, so he’s about halfway done with his photos already!
Jackson – It’s been so entertaining to have a front row seat to your growth as a leader and manager of people! Thank you for all the one-liners you surreptitiously sneak into conversation to brighten anyone’s day and for all the service hours you’ve put in, helping our district’s events go smoothly for live streaming!
Lights, camera, action! The world is truly your’s!
Carrie
