Meet Our Intern Erika Littlefield
My name is Erika Littlefield, and I am a 16-year-old junior at Stanley High School. I am an active member of various school and community organizations, including Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and 4-H. Additionally, I have participated in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and FFA chapters, which have given me valuable leadership experiences and a deep connection to community service.
My extracurricular activities have always been diverse. I have been part of the cross country and track teams, as well as the Stanley golf team, where I’ve learned the importance of discipline, perseverance, and sportsmanship. I am also a member of the Stanley High School speech team, which has helped me hone my communication skills and express myself confidently. This year, I took on a new role as a member of the Stanley High School yearbook team, contributing to preserving our school’s memories and ensuring our story is well documented for future generations. I also play the French horn for the Stanley band, which has allowed me to explore my love for music and contribute to the school’s spirit through performances.
One of the most transformative experiences of my life was taking a big leap of faith last year by applying for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship program. To my delight, I was selected, and I spent an incredible year in Germany living with a host family, attending school, and fully immersing myself in the German culture. This experience broadened my horizons, taught me to embrace different perspectives, and helped me grow as a person.
Learning to adapt to a different environment, understand a new language, and form connections with people from a different culture has been truly rewarding and has made me more open-minded, independent, and culturally aware.
Through my involvement with the 4-H program, I have had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities, including communication arts, clothing revue, project expos, and showing swine. I’ve also exhibited several projects at the Mountrail County Achievement Days.
These experiences have strengthened my sense of responsibility, improved my public speaking skills, and allowed me to express my creativity. I love getting involved and helping out wherever there’s a need for an extra pair of hands. I believe that my ambition and outgoing nature make me well-suited for taking on challenges and making a positive impact in my community.
So, why did I want to pursue a career in journalism? Growing up, I was always fascinated by newspapers. I admired how journalists could distill complex and broad stories into concise, compelling articles. The power of storytelling and the role that news plays in keeping communities informed inspired me. I also found it exciting to see photographers running around, capturing moments as they happened, I wanted to be a part of that world, to be the one getting the “scoop” and sharing it with the community.
When I joined the speech team in seventh grade, I chose to participate in the Radio Broadcasting event, and it was there that my love for journalism truly took off. I enjoyed the intricate task of cutting down pieces to fit within the time limit while retaining their core message. The fast-paced nature of radio broadcasting, combined with the opportunity to write my own commentary, thrilled me. It was during that time that I realized my passion for journalism and knew that it was a field I wanted to pursue after high school.
I hope that by working at the Mountrail County Promoter, I will gain a deeper understanding of every aspect of working for a newspaper, from writing and editing to photography and layout. I want to explore each part of the journalism process to discover which area excites me the most.
Additionally, I see this as a chance to learn more about the community I grew up in, to step out into the field, interview people, and hear their stories firsthand. It excites me to think of taking those stories and transforming them into articles that educate, inform, and bring the community together.
Overall, my experiences, whether it’s running cross country, speaking on the radio, or adapting to a new culture in Germany, have all contributed to shaping who I am today. I am driven by curiosity and a desire to connect with others, and I believe that journalism will allow me to continue doing just that: exploring the world, telling meaningful stories, and giving a voice to the people in my community.