By Gustavo Buenrostro
Everyone has goals when they are young. Karla Rendon made and accomplished her goal this past semester in her senior year to become editor-in-chief of her school’s newspaper.
Rendon is an East Los Angeles College student who also attends the University of La Verne, where she is the editor-in-chief of its newspaper, Campus Times.
“I started as a staff writer, news editor, arts editor, feature editor and then my professor asked me to be chief,” Rendon says.
Rendon said it was in her high school’s yearbook where she fell in love with journalism and wanted to write for Rolling Stone Magazine.
Along with being editor-in-chief, going to school and working at In-N-Out, she also interns at Lolipop Records.
Rendon got a notice that they were hiring interns on Instagram and applied. She then went to talk to someone in person at Lolipop Records and was hired on-the-spot.
“I got hired unconventionally. I went in, they asked a few questions, I answered them and then I was hired right there,” Rendon says.
Rendon said that at Lolipop Records, she can write about music and have fun.
As a journalist, she has written many stories and taken many photos, but one of Rendon’s favorites is a photo she took of a fire.
“I was driving to campus one evening around 4:30 p.m. and I see these flames. So, I decided to go for it, and saw that it was a fire in Pomona. I grabbed my camera from my trunk and went toward the flames. I called my friends in the newsroom and told them I was onsite,” Rendon says.
She said it’s likes telling that story because she followed her journalistic instincts to get the picture.
Rendon won the first place award for Mark of Excellence by the Society of Professional Journalists, who are part of the 11th region that covers California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii April 30.
One of Rendon’s best friends, Kristina Bugante, says that Rendon is a very genuine person.
“She definitely has what it takes to be a professional journalist. People find her very easy to talk to and Karla genuinely wants to know people’s story,” Bugante said.
Emily Lau, another friend of Rendon, says she is a good Editor in chief.
“Karla is very helpful when we are writing our stories. She is understanding and doesn’t have that ‘I’m in charge’ attitude. She takes our personal lives into account and is very easy to talk to,” Lau said.
Rendon became an ELAC student because of financial troubles. The costs at the University of La Verne started getting expensive, so she decided to take a few classes at ELAC.
When she arrived at ELAC, Rendon said she experienced a bit of a culture shock because of how different ELAC was from La Verne.
Rendon was surprised to find that she had to add classes through a lottery. She says that class sizes also surprised her, as the teacher-to-student ratio is 10 to 1 at La Verne.
Along with being incredibly busy with Campus Times, interning at Lolipop Records and school, she also has a part-time job at In-N-Out.
“The company is amazing. They give us accident-free gift cards, take us to the beach for no reason. They are a really giving company. They pay well, too,” said Rendon.
One of the reasons Rendon applied there was because she knew In-N-Out is notorious for working around students’ schedules, as well as its benefits.
Rendon said she is a very busy woman, but loves what she does.
Emily Lau, another friend of Rendon, says she is a good Editor in chief.
“Karla is very helpful when we are writing our stories. She is understanding and doesn’t have that ‘I’m in charge’ attitude. She takes our personal lives into account and is very easy to talk to,” Lau said.
Rendon became an ELAC student because of financial troubles. The costs at the University of La Verne started getting expensive, so she decided to take a few classes at ELAC.
When she arrived at ELAC, Rendon said she experienced a bit of a culture shock because of how different ELAC was from La Verne.
Rendon was surprised to find that she had to add classes through a lottery. She says that class sizes also surprised her, as the teacher-to-student ratio is 10 to 1 at La Verne.
Along with being incredibly busy with Campus Times, interning at Lolipop Records and school, she also has a part-time job at In-N-Out.
“The company is amazing. They give us accident-free gift cards, take us to the beach for no reason. They are a really giving company. They pay well, too,” said Rendon.
One of the reasons Rendon applied there was because she knew In-N-Out is notorious for working around students’ schedules, as well as its benefits.
Rendon said is a very busy woman, but loves what she does.