Beyond The Lens

A deep breath hits me every time that clock hits 9:16. I turn forward and face all my imaginable fears. That camera takes that shot as soon as that bell rings.“It’s 9:17”, my classmates yell from the control room. Now the show begins, the one I’ve been waiting for so anxiously all morning. My peers and teachers, they’re all watching me as soon as I say the words,“Good Morning Lincoln I’m Rei Tedoco”. The teleprompter scrolls, those white words telling me what to say next. My co-anchor reports right by my side, then the next tape hits with a time of 30 seconds. Between those 30 seconds of silence, the whole school is tuning in. Information, accomplishments, announcements to stories, that is what caught my eye.

Those stories were the magic I noticed every day in TV class. Soon I understood we, Lincoln Live, had the ability to give information, expand others knowledge and shine a little on others. In my soul, I felt doing everything we do in every show was important to someone, somewhere, at Gahanna Lincoln. The spark that truly lights me is that I can be a representation to others. I can set an example or be a role model for any student in the building because of this program. As a Filipino-American woman and co-executive producer of the TV program, there aren’t many like me to represent or be that light to inspire others. The only feeling I can describe is joyfulness due to the opportunity of playing such a dominant role in a show that many in my community can see everyday.