Today is Ashlynn’s big day: the annual FSPA conference. Her submissions have been sent in, ready to be judged and her emotions are heightened. A nervous, but excited feeling is bubbling up inside her as she makes her way onto the bus. “On the bus ride over, you could definitely feel the excitement and anticipation. I was definitely excited but for most of the ride, I played mobile games with my friends and slept,” she said. FSPA (Florida Scholastic Press Association) is the premier organization for student journalists and scholastic media programs in Florida, dedicated to educating future media professionals and promoting the responsible exercise of the first amendment through adherence to the highest standards of journalism according to the Florida Scholastic Press Association website. Students from all around go to compete for awards, gain knowledge and experience, and to make memories to last lifetimes. When asked about her favorite workshop that she attended, Ashlynn answered with a smile, “My favorite workshop was the Be Outstanding On-Air by Julia Pappacoda. During this session, she reviewed best practices for on-air talent and how to create better stand-ups and how to feel more comfortable in front of the camera.” And it seems like that workshop was just child’s play for Ashlynn because she won first place for the Humorous Current Events Podcast contest. She also tied for first in the Deadline Illustration contest where she created a digital illustration that could accompany the famous poem “Casey at the Bat” in a literary magazine. Leaving the event, Ashlynn walked away with a lot of experience and newfound passion for her craft. “FSPA overall was really fun and it was cool touring the college…My favorite part of the evening were the competition results as that was the main reason I went. I give the overall experience a 4.8/5.” Nothing can stop Ashlynn from achieving her dreams.