Liv Madden: Following in my sisters’ steps allowed me to make my own mark on Harbinger

Going into high school with two older sisters to give me a rundown of East was a blessing in disguise. But it also meant copying nearly everything they do, while also trying to leave my mark. They both had their “thing” going for them which meant I had to subsequently join cheer like my sister and eventually the blessing in disguise… Harbinger. 

OK, this isn’t going to be a sob story about me not having a calling in life but, I can say that other than my late-night crying sessions about my photostory every other week, Harbinger gave me something to look forward to every day. 

Originally having no interest in the whole journalism thing, I was constantly pressured by my upperclassmen friends to join. Finally, after months of avoidance, I caved and submitted my application at semester. Seeing my friends’ smiles after becoming a staff photographer made me ecstatic for class after winter break, thinking it would be a breeze — I was wrong. 

Having not taken Journalism 1, I struggled to keep up with the three credits per issue. But luckily, I had a helping hand throughout the whole thing — my photo editor sister Elise.

Swamped with editing thousands of photos per week, I was certain I wouldn’t last long. After pushing myself to keep shooting and still having no confidence in my work, I saw one of my Lancer Dancer showcase photos pop up in Tate’s photo show — a critique of our edited work. My stomach dropped, anxious to hear what he had to say. 

But I had no reason to be scared. Tate liked the photo because it told a story. My ambition to succeed in Harbinger had returned.

Tate’s initially dreaded comment made me rethink journalism. It’s not about taking photos of the free throw shot at a varsity basketball game, it’s about getting the team’s reaction to the winning shot. At this point in my Harbinger career I felt comfortable enough to step out of my sister’s shadow. I now see it as a harbinger — pun intended — of personal growth and development, as it has given me the opportunity to meet new people on and off of staff that have positively influenced my life.

But who knew that thanks to the simple act of following my sister, I would be able to tell my own story and leave mark on East.