At Lake Shore High School, The Media Productions II program is more than just cameras, scripts, and editing; it’s about teamwork, the bonds created in the process, and the growth between the art made in the class, and friendships created during the process.
In Media Productions II, different students, with different views, come together by passing Media Productions and being chosen by Tami Blaszkowski, and are put into a small class that creates videos for the announcements, competitions, and events that are ongoing around the school.
When creating a video, the students work in groups to create plans, and ideas for the upcoming video the group is planning to create. When the students work as a team, they also work closer to becoming closer with each other, and understanding their vision in the video that’s being created.
Abigale Smith, junior, who has been in Media Productions since 8th grade, and has started the Media Production II class in sophomore year says, “ during my sophomore year, I was the youngest in there, and I was personally terrified. But, I ended up meeting so many incredible people through this program.”
The environment provided in Media Productions is one that lets students be creative and bring students ideas, thoughts, and dreams to life, with other students to enhance your creativity by giving you feedback to your ideas.
Abigale Smith says, “The Media Productions class offers a collaborative environment that allows you to work with others creatively. We end up becoming close in that class, and it really is like a little family. Mrs Blaszkowski fosters a safe space for all students in Media which allows for everyone to feel comfortable enough to be themselves.”
Friendship is introduced into Media Productions II by the projects, discussing plans, and working together in groups. Throughout Media, everyone gets comfortable with each other through all of the assignments.
Teressa Leahy, senior, who is also in Media Productions II, says, “Media has taught me to get closer to people I wasn’t familiar with by frequently working in groups. Over time, this process helps us become more familiar with each other, leading to increased comfort, sharing jokes, and laughter.”
Each year, The Media Productions II team always becomes a family, even when new members enter and old members graduate, they are always welcoming the new members joining the family, and miss the members that graduate to follow their dreams.
