By Connor Layden and Jimmy Shaw
Executive Video Editors
(CL) “What do you guys even do?” Despite this constant question, Jimmy and I continued to do what we do, loving every second of it. We started from scratch, with an excuse for a camera, iMovie, and a young ambition. From founding La Vista Live, to having our earliest videos mocked in Broadcast Journalism by the Teacher of the Year-led MMN infantry, to covering Shaun White’s Air+Style competition, we’ve come a long way.
Although our presence in a print class was often questioned, and at times ignored, I fell in love with LV. Journalism is a rapidly changing industry, and innovating LV has been an honor. The non-supportive archaic roots were gradually removed, with new faces replacing old. One of those faces was Jack Allen. When everyone forgot LV even had a multimedia section, Jack was there, keenly interested, genuinely excited, and consistently supportive. Thanks for making this coexistence possible.
I’ll always be unexceptionally dedicated to LV and Mac. Thank you for a tumultuous, exhilarating, and rewarding experience. I’ll visit if I can trudge through Syracuse’s tundra.
(JS) I consider myself extremely lucky, as we all are, to be born on the cusp of generational progressiveness, nipping at the heels of tradition with a sense of modernism.
My work with La Vista has often been a catalyst of skepticism, with my videography constantly labeled as “not having a place” in a newspaper production class throughout the years. However, in truth, my one motive has always been simple: to make La Vista the best production it can possibly be. And after four years of tireless work, I can honestly say that I have done everything I could to make LV as strong as possible. And I have loved every second of it.
La Vista Live is, and has always been, Connor’s and my child, growing slowly over time under our fostering effort. The support we have gotten from Mr. McAvin is something I will be forever grateful for, as he has never stopped believing in us, just as we have never stopped believing in La Vista’s potential to continue improving from excellence. Thank you, La Vista, for being the highlight of my high school experience. It is something I will never forget.
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