The journalism program at UC High sets students up for success, providing opportunities for writers, editors and photographers. Some may wonder what the future holds for those students who decide to pursue journalism as a career. One such student, currently studying journalism in college is UC High Alumnus Zachary Grover. At present he is studying abroad in New Zealand.
Grover left UC on a burning path to success. “I am a junior studying Sports Journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Currently, I am also studying abroad in Dunedin, New Zealand, and have a sports marketing internship with the Highlanders of Super Rugby. After graduation, the end goal is to be a hockey broadcaster,” said Grover. He was able to use the skills and interests he gained at UC High to guide him to where he is today.
Already interested in sports journalism, Grover joined the journalism program at UC High his freshman year, stayed in journalism all four years and was Editor-in-Chief his senior year. Some of his best memories in the program were from those “famous” journalism potlucks: “Whether it was hooking up a teacher with free food when you needed to pass their class or looking out for a friend who needed a bite, journalism potlucks were the best potlucks on campus, bar none,” said Grover. Even long after high school, Grover still remembers and cherishes the good memories he made in room 226.
“The journalism program at UC gave me my start. It not only built my journalism foundation with the inverted pyramid and Big Six, but also helped take my writing from a hobby to a possible career,” said Grover. He used the resources he was given to explore and find himself within his work. He was able to take lessons he picked up in his first year of high school and turn them into skills that will last a lifetime.
Grover attributes much of his success to the journalism class at UC, but no feat of success can be caused just by one thing. His hard work and dedication are some of the things that led to his success after high school. His love for journalism led him to ASU, where he was accepted to their school of journalism, finding bigger and better opportunities like the sports marketing internship he holds with the Highlanders Rugby Team.
Grover explained that he attended a small, isolated private school before transferring to UC High. The adjustment was no easy task. “UC High pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and exposed me to new opportunities and challenges for which I will be forever grateful,” said Grover. He was able to rise to the occasion and thrive. He said that even when he was put in tough positions, he was able to make do with what he had.
As Zachary Grover moves into his senior year at ASU, he is left wanting more and stays curious about what is to come in the future, no doubt it will include a thriving career in journalism.