Adviser, former staff remember lessons learn running LHS Drops of Ink newspaper

• The following is part of an ongoing series of articles in celebration of Libertyville High School's 100th anniversary.

By Barb Schneider, DOI Advisor 1982-97, on behalf of Libertyville High School

One part of my life I miss every single day, hands down, is quite simply advising Drops of Ink. Sure, there were days and late nights that role would have me ready to scream, cry, even take a sledgehammer to a computer; but I absolutely miss that daily learning, those challenges, and most of all, each member of every DOI staff.

During the '80s and '90s, we learned how to typeset and wax corrections onto galleys. We graduated to cutting-edge Apple IIE computers and then to Macs with Photoshop and Quark Xpress to design papers. Every issue was a technical challenge filled with learning curves way beyond the time we had in our schedule. But every issue came out on time; "whatever it takes" was our motto!

Michael Moy, client manager at STATS, remembered, "I always loved how we rallied together to try to re-create what we had lost. And a lot of times, I know we ended up with something better than what we previously had. It might seem funny to have nostalgic feelings about crashing computers, but I still believe that sometimes you need to have a complete mess on your hands before you can even start to make something good."

Most importantly, the students learned how to be journalists - responsible journalists. They learned how to take eight blank pages and fill them with interesting, important and accurate information every two weeks by discussing, arguing, debating and coming to a consensus.

Superintendent Don Gossett, a frequent visitor to the DOI room, admitted, "Even though I might not have liked the topic, I realized they had to write about it and they asked the right questions and reported the facts accurately."

Jason Moss, owner of House of Atlas, LLC, added, "We were taught the importance of 'going to the source' to get the most accurate and unfiltered information. I have found this life skill to be one of the most relevant and important as my career has progressed. 'Going to the source' promotes efficiency, accuracy, and accountability. From putting together facts for a hard-hitting sales presentation to speaking to sub-suppliers way down the supply chain to correct issues before they arise, I have found this skill to be a great guide in life."

Gretchen Thomas Kane, now an NYC elementary school teacher, said, "Having a unifying purpose and goal with the expectation that we'd work together and figure things out was one reason it was such a unique experience."

We ventured out beyond school walls to compete against other student newspaper staffs, and saw time and again we were one of the best. But we should have been. We had the support of the administration, our families, and each other to put out the best paper we could every single time - even if it meant a mom showing up at 11 p.m. to bring us snacks to help us get through a tough deadline, or the tech team dropping what it was doing to come help us recover a lost file.

Abra Thomas Larson, an elementary school teacher, reflected, "Being a part of DOI taught me the importance of being observant and responsive to a community, how to respectfully debate and disagree, how to do whatever it takes to meet a deadline, and no matter what, how to work hard and enjoy whatever it is you are doing."

Scott T. Holland, author and member of The Times editorial staff, said, "I absolutely carried lessons about news judgment, writing clarity and the power of a voice through college and a 16-year (and counting) career in professional journalism. There's a lot of high school I wouldn't care to relive, but I'd go try to be on the DOI staff today if they'd let me."

So would I, Scott. So would I.