Going into my freshman year at Dunbar, I had several friends who were involved in PLD Lamplighter. I had never heard about it before and didn’t have an interest in knowing more. It just sounded like a class that had lots of work that I didn’t have time for. 

However, as the year went on, the same friends started telling me more about the chances they got because of Lamplighter.

By the beginning of my second semester of freshman year, I started to gain interest and wanted to learn more. It started sounding more like a program instead of a class and I wanted to be a part of it. 

I started out by asking staff members I knew what they did in Lamplighter and if they liked it. Not only did I have friends who were currently in the program, but I also had close family friends who graduated from Dunbar and were a part of Lamplighter, and they shared their positive experiences.

After hearing all of this, I knew that I wanted to join. I quickly filled out the application and attached some photos I had taken of sunsets, nature or some action shots of my sister playing soccer. Within a month or so, I received the news that I was accepted. I was beyond excited to start this journey where I could learn many different things such as how to take proper photos, write articles, and learn to be a leader.

On the first day of school, I was so excited for third block Lamplighter. The moment Mrs. Wendy Turner started talking, I knew I would love this program.

Many people take Lamplighter for that “easy A.” Once the year started to pick up, I realized there was a whole other side of Lamplighter that not everyone sees. Lamplighter is not only a class, and not only a program, but also a family.

People who aren’t in the class don’t realize this and that is a huge part of why I enjoy every day I spend in Lamplighter.

Lamplighter has become my second family. I have become closer to the people I knew already, and I met so many people I didn’t know before joining. I look forward to stepping through the doors into this class every day.