Managing News Editor Heather Fabritze reflects on past memories and growth with optimism–the same outlook she kept by her side throughout high school. Although entering high school without a love of journalism, Fabritze quickly found her niche in news. 

In addition to The Stinger, Fabritze has been involved in Collage Magazine, French Club, National Honors Society, Peace Club, History Day, Reading Olympics, and the French Honors Society throughout her years in high school. She plans to continue pursuing her passion for writing by majoring in english at Washington College in Maryland.

Stinger: What moment did you realize you wanted to pursue journalism?

Fabrize: I can’t remember what it exactly was, but probably like my first big interview with someone who wasn’t a student and not a teacher; it probably would have been one of the administrative staff. Whenever I leave an interview with somebody who’s, I guess, just in a really important position andI come out having all these really good quotes and all this thorough information, it just makes me feel good. It makes me feel professional and kind of like when I read the Morning Call, and it’s like, ‘Wow, I made something like that,’ you know? So, probably would have been one of those interviews that I finally decided.

Stinger: What inspired you to join The Stinger?

Fabritze: I think mainly it was Ms. Reaman and then also my fellow classmates, because she kind of inspired me to believe in myself and what I was able to do. Initially, I didn’t really think I was good enough to be on The Stinger… with the whole confidence thing. But, she helped me to build that confidence and realize that I was a very good writer, and that I would be a good addition to the staff that we’d already had. And then I obviously, also had other classmates encouraging me too.

Stinger: What has been your favorite project while on The Stinger?

Fabritze: Well, I really like the one that we’re working on right now, with the lack of teachers of color, ‘cause I feel like this is the most in-depth one we’ve ever done. We’ve interviewed like 12 or 13 people overall, which is a lot, and I feel like–not that a lot of the stories we do are safe–but they’re very, I guess, school level, if that makes sense. Whereas I feel like this one is much more than that, especially with all the interviews we’ve done. So, I’m excited for that to be published and for the reactions to it to come in.

Stinger: What is your favorite Stinger memory?

Fabritze: Probably when we went to Washington, DC for NSPA. I don’t know if I have, like, a specific memory from that, but that was so fun. Just being on the bus, and being able to talk to all of our friends, and just being in Washington DC together. And then, like, the nights that we’d go out for dinner, and just get to talk with one another, and the award ceremony; that was really fun, because we were overly nervous, and so we were just talking to one another. And then when they actually came in, and Aiden wasn’t there to get his awards, then we’re panicking over that. It was just really high stress, but also really high fun.

Stinger: What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned over the past four years?

Fabritze: I would say to just always keep an open mind, to always be willing to try new things, and to talk to people that you might not have been, I guess, inclined to talk to you before, and to just like make the most of your high school experience before you go off to college, because like, it’s the only high school experience you’re going to get; you might as well take the opportunity while you can.

Stinger: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in high school?

Fabritze: I would say at times, definitely, I guess juggling a pretty hefty schedule–like classes, and then social life, and then obviously, like, all the other commitments outside and inside of school, and then also taking time for yourself. So, a big thing that I had to learn was that it’s okay if I’m not working 24-7, and that I take a couple hours to just breathe.

Stinger: Who is your biggest inspiration?

Fabritze: Probably my parents. As cliche as that is, they’ve really supported me through everything, and they’re both very hardworking, and really fought to give me opportunities that they didn’t have. So I’m really appreciative of that, and I hope that I can be the same as they are in the future for the next generation.

Stinger: What is an interesting fact not many people know about you?

Fabritze: I really like singing. It’s not something I’m involved with within school, so a lot of my classmates don’t know that, but outside of school, I’ve sang for a really long time. So it’s a shame I didn’t get to translate that to anything in high school, but maybe in college I’ll be able to.

Stinger: Overall, what did you think of your time at Emmaus?

Fabritze: I had a lot of fun. I went into high school with not very high hopes. I was not looking forward to it; but I’d say that I came out really enjoying it. It feels like it flew by in no time at all; like it feels like freshman year was yesterday. So, I feel like that’s a good sign. I mean, I met a lot of new people and made a lot of new friends, and I wasn’t really expecting to. Overall, I just feel really comfortable here, which was not what I thought would happen.

Stinger: What advice do you have for underclassmen?

Fabritze: To not push themselves too hard. I mean, like, obviously to put in the work that’s necessary, but to not, like, overload themselves and think this is the epitome of all that life is. But, you know, it’s just high school, like, no matter what happens, life will keep moving on, and to not get too caught up, if they make mistakes, or if they, like, fail a test or something, just get back up and try harder, I guess. Try again.