Chief Advocate editor-in-chief Izzy DiNunzio bids farewell after four years in Nonnewaug’s journalism program. (Courtesy of Izzy DiNunzio)

The first time I realized journalism made an impact was when I hugged a crying stranger my freshman year.

“I appreciate you so much,” she said through her tears.

I had reached out about covering a story on a 40-year-old cold-case murder. It was an assignment for me, but a grand gesture to her. 

Journalism is more than just words.

Four years in B10. I looked up to Kamden Bushka freshman and sophomore year, then I looked up to Sam Conti junior year, then somehow I became the person people looked up to. 

Editor-in-chief? Honestly, I don’t deserve that kind of title.

I lost an entire month of my senior year due to a reckless decision that I won’t ever be able to take back.

But you should look up to me?

The weekend after, I came to school and I was able to talk to Mr. Brennan about it, something I would have never felt comfortable doing if I hadn’t been in this program.

The dude’s seen me sit on my phone all class, turn in assignments late, and honestly do completely nothing on some days. 

Yet no matter what, he pushed me to do better and to achieve things I didn’t even know I could do. 

That’s how I found my passion. 

Journalism is more than just words.

Journalism taught me more than any math class or any science class.

Journalism taught me it’s okay to get out of your comfort zone – actually, it’s kind of a requirement. 

It’s the only class where you can truly bring your own interests into every assignment. 

Of course the periods, commas, and semicolons get an eye roll, but I still signed up for the class year after year. 

I have always wanted to go into the criminal justice field, but journalism cemented that for me. I especially want to work in victim services because some cold-case victims have no stories about them, except from their obituary 20, 30, or 40 years ago. 

I’m not going to continue journalism because I like to write, or even because I like to read.

I’m going to continue journalism because there’s a world of people out there who have yet to tell their story.

This is the opinion of Chief Advocate editor-in-chief Izzy DiNunzio, a Nonnewaug senior and four-year contributor to the Chief Advocate who will attend the University of New Haven.