When something means a lot to you, it’s difficult to try to put it into words. I was all too familiar with this speechlessness last year.
While picking my freshman electives for the 2024-2025 school year, photojournalism was my last choice. I had little to no interest in it outside of the word ‘photo,’ which drew my attention. When the first day rolled around, it was in the very back of my mind, overshadowed by everything else that comes along with freshman year. However, after just one class period, David Winter was able to flip my perspective completely.
Winter’s enthusiasm for photojournalism was contagious. Before the end of the first week of school, I was photographing my first-ever school event, Bandapalooza. I had no clue how to even use a camera and felt like a fish out of water with one around my neck. I wandered around the parking lot, taking pictures that were too dark and grainy while overflowing with anxiety. My mom’s tendency to spark up conversations with people was never usually helpful, until that one afternoon.
My mom started talking to a girl, seemingly a bit older than me. She was tall, with short blond hair, and just like me, had a camera around her neck. Apparently, this girl lived close to us and had a loose relationship with my family. Her name was Lillian Gray, a senior at McCallum. I was awkward, shy and hesitant to have a conversation with her, but I guess the few words I got out made an impression.
Just one week later, Winter asked if I would like Gray to mentor me. It was extremely out of the ordinary, as I felt like there were so many other freshmen in photojournalism with more experience. But Gray was able to see my enthusiasm and read me like a book.
The mentorship started with just school events. She took me to football games, volleyball games, and eventually, the Texas Tribune Festival. All the while, I still felt out of place. Little by little, however, Gray helped to show me that sometimes, if you just try, you’ll be able to do anything.
I eventually learned that before she chose to mentor me, Gray herself had been mentored by another journalist named Morgan Eye, who had taught Gray everything she was now teaching me. Knowing I was part of a heritage of knowledge made my relationship with her all the more important to me.
I was always shy at events, afraid to go up close to the field and get interviews. I constantly huddled behind Lillian like a kindergartener on their first day of class, but eventually, I had to reach first grade and start working by myself. Seeing her perform journalistic tasks inspired me more and more and made me realize that I just might be able to have more independence.
One day, Gray encouraged me to write my very first event caption before we learned how to in class. At the time, it felt like such a large responsibility was given to me. I wrote the caption, anxious about every word I was writing. When it was published, relief washed over me. Despite how heavily edited it was, I was making strides in gaining my confidence in journalism.
Eventually, the Texas Tribune Festival arrived in Austin in Nov 2024, a time packed full of political debate. Gray invited me to come along for just one day and I learned how much can truly fit into 24 hours with the highest effort. There were speakers galore and we listened to politicians from all over the United States, including lawyer and former United States Representative Colin Allred and former 52nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
Even with a line outside the building, we were determined to meet Pelosi at her book signing. After waiting for nearly an hour, we finally met her. Gray, again, was the one talking while I stood beside her and took in the moment. Thanks to her, I was there meeting Nancy Pelosi.
We also worked together to cover many band events, like football games and competitions. It was time for me to spread my wings. The culmination of everything Gray had taught me was about to be tested. It all came to a head when the band reached the UIL Area D Finals on the night of the Homecoming dance. This competition would determine if Mac Band made state.
I was presented with a choice: go photograph the area competition after months of covering Bandup until this point, or indulge in my very first homecoming dance in high school. I chose the former and skipped Homecoming.
By the end of the area competition, I had done 5 live posts with Gray’s help. She actively wrote captions from the homecoming dance, while I worked to photograph and get interviews at the band event. All the while, we were hoping that McCallum would place in the top 5 and make it to state, which was to be held at the Alamodome that year. Unfortunately, they placed 6th, just one spot lower. I was gravely disappointed, but more so upset that I wasn’t able to go and do one last band event alongside Gray.
Slowly but surely, my relationship with Gray morphed farther away from mentor and mentee and more into close friends. I got to know her personally, and she became one of my best friends. By the time South by Southwest rolled around in March, we were closer than ever. In the back of my mind, I knew this would be our last big project together alongside Winter, so I made a point to cherish it as much as I could.
We went all four days, each one stacked full of photography, interviews, but more importantly, lots of laughter and joy I knew I couldn’t get anywhere else. I tried my hardest to take as much inspiration as possible from her. It was bittersweet when the festival came to a close. I was sad it was over, but also very thankful for the time together.
As the spring semester came to an end, Lillian was accepted into the University of Maryland, where she planned to study journalism. The final month rolled around and third-period photojournalism morphed into 90 minutes of me making my final memories with Lillian and Winter. However, I had one idea for our final project.
I remembered hearing about a story pitched by former staffer Sophie Ryland, a piece about Winter’s late dog Marty. I mentioned the idea to Lillian, and before I knew it, we were 12 feet deep into the article. Winter had no clue we were writing it, but we sneakily managed to get eight interviews, including from his own kids, behind his back.
Knowing that Winter was retiring and Gray was moving away to college, it all took on a new level of bitterness. Marty, who passed over the rainbow bridge the year before, was a mascot for MacJ. The article was a big hit with Winter, and we were so proud to bring him that joy.
Those last few weeks were emotional, but at the end of it all, I’m thankful for everything I learned from both Winter and Gray. I only hope that I can give back in the future to a mentee of my own, and have the same level of teaching and love that was given to me.
