The All-State Journalism Team was announced in August highlighting one Langham Creek student, Senior Hailey Vo, along with the best-of-the-best in Texas and as the only nomineee from Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. For the 224 high school journalism students across Texas that made the team, it is a huge deal that required a lot of work and practice. Students had to earn 50 points or more through competition at the district, regional, state and national levels to earn acceptance to the All-State Journalism Staff.
Senior Hailey Vo has been passionate about journalism throughout her time at Langham Creek High School and led the LCHS Journalism UIL Team with back-to-back District Championship wins the last two years.
“When I was choosing my electives for high school, I knew I liked writing and I saw Journalism so I just picked it,” Vo said. “I didn’t even know what it was honestly; I just knew it was about writing so I picked it.”
In elementary she knew that she liked writing. In high school, she turned that love of writing to enjoy journalism, developing it to be her thing.
“I have thought about pursuing it in the future, but my parents are not all into that,” Vo said. “I definitely want to work on the newspaper in college though, but I’ll be pursuing health science. For my major, I want to be a nurse. I do like science, just not as much as journalism.”
During her freshman year, it was suggested she join the UIL team for journalism. Thinking she wasn’t experienced enough yet, she didn’t. During her sophomore year, she finally decided to join just to see what it was like.
“The district contests were at Jersey Village High School the past few years, regionals were at Baylor University,” Vo said. “The first year I went it was an overnight trip, we had to drive there, it was a road trip.”
Every competition was the same, but each one got harder, starting with the district meet.
“In district, I came early and practiced with my friend Cindy for a bit,” Vo said. “When it was time for the competition, we went inside the classroom, they gave us a writing prompt and you couldn’t look at it until the timer started. Once the timer started, you have to start typing, like, everything. It’s just like writing in class, but with a time limit.”
Competitors had to have their final draft printed before the timer ended, usually lasting 45-60 minutes. Judges chose the best ones and results are given at a later time. Medals were also given out to the top 6 and the top 3 advance to the next contest held at a later date. After district competition was regionals, Vo agreed that it was definitely way more stressing.
“Last year Regionals was super tiring, I had to wake up at 4am and then we got there at like 7am,” Vo said. “For the actual competition you had to bring your own computers and stuff because they didn’t provide those things. You had to bring and set up your printer too. It was run like district, but definitely harder.”
Hailey’s goals in journalism are to go farther, and keep telling the stories of Langham Creek while she finishes her senior year. She is taking on the role of Editor-in-Chief of the LC Howler Student News and plans to keep competing in UIL Journalism contests.
“I do like the experience of contests because it shows how hard I’m willing to work and how much I’d study for those competitions,” Vo said. “And it showcases my ability, I think it’s a really nice experience.”
