The first person to take an interest in me, academically, was a wiry, red-headed woman named Alice Bennett. She was a journalism instructor at Washington High School – a public school in an area where the convenience store clerks stood behind bulletproof glass and front doors were dead-bolted at dusk.

For a woman so small (and so plain), her personality was intimidating at times. One look from her could cut you in half – a characteristic that subdued even the most misbehaving students.

I came to her classroom my junior year at the encouragement of a friend who was on the newspaper staff. Unlike almost everyone else I knew, I had shown talent for absolutely nothing, so I agreed to take Newspaper I. I wrote a couple of stories that I really enjoyed, made some friends, and learned about landmark legal cases in the field of journalism – which I have since forgotten.

In Newspaper I, Mrs. Bennett taught us more than how to write; she taught us why to write. Of course, the curriculum required some background on taking notes and asking appropriate interview questions, but for the most part our focus was on finding the souls of people in our stories and bringing out their voices. Words on paper struck me in the way they could bring eloquence to the simplest scene or heal the gravest tragedy.

Her lessons inspired something in me that began coming through in the thin school newspapers that were published three times a year. From the handful of stories I wrote, she probably got 1,500 words out of me that appeared in print, tops. But in those stories she found enough proof to persuade me into a career in journalism.

This issue of KEY is filled with articles meant to help guide you along your path to furthering your education. Our story about credit cards explains the world of credit and clarifies the offers you’ll soon be finding in your mailbox. The ACT section provides helpful information on the financial aid process and applying for scholarships. And our resident writing expert lays out seven steps for improving your writing for college entrance exams.

Keep reading. Hopefully in this magazine you will find out something about yourself – and where you’re going. If you consider your door to a better future locked, relax. The KEY may be in the following pages.

Best wishes,

Kevin Kuzma
Editor