Senior will continue passion for hard work, payoffs of journalism

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 4, 2004 | by DAVE PHILIPPS THE GAZETTE

Editor's note: This is one in a series of profiles concluding May 20.

If Jessica Sidman wrote her own beginning for this story, it would start with a scene of her at school after the bell has rung and the sun has set, studying final layouts to make sure Palmer High School's newspaper, The Lever, is perfect.

"The paper journalism is my life right now," said Sidman, editor of the state's oldest student newspaper. She has to keep track of more than 20 reporters and editors and make sure the paper rolls off the presses on time.

A different beginning might not focus on the hard work of putting out a paper, but on the payoffs.

Sidman has connected with people through her writing. Before every school dance, someone at Palmer still hangs copies of a story she wrote about a fellow student who suffered brain damage in a drunkdriving accident:

"Cassandra Bryant loved to party.

"She loved dancing every Sunday night at the Beach Club, cruising the Ave with her friends, and drinking tequila.

"She had her nose and tongue pierced and a tattoo of her name inked across her stomach. Cassandra also dreamed of becoming a model.

"But now, the 18-year-old Palmer sophomore is confined to a wheelchair and communicates by pointing to letters of the alphabet on a tattered piece of paper."

Sidman's journalism advisor said her writing is "punchy" and "compassionate," without "cheap sentimentality" that even more experienced journalists fall for.

The senior, bound for the University of Pennsylvania, has a curiosity for biology and history and teaches elementary students how to read, but her real passion lies in journalism. "You can explore so many different areas: biology, foreign policy whatever you want," she said.

JESSICA SIDMAN

Palmer High School Parents: Renee and Michael Sidman

What's next: University of Pennsylvania Grade-point average: 4.76

"If you could have any supernatural power, what would it be?"

"I would be able to instantly transport myself anywhere, so I could travel the world and never have to deal with airport security and jet lag."

Other stuff:

Water Environment Federation Award for Colorado

Colorado Environmental Health Association Award

Writing/reading teacher for sixth-graders

Yale Science & Engineering Association Special Award

Colorado History Society James E. Hartmann History Day Award