How Hoops High changed me

Hello, my name is Nayati Johnson and my job for Hoops High is an announcer. Hoops High isn't only a job that inspires its also a safe haven for high school students while living in the hard streets of Chicago. Hoops High is a great place to be if you are interested in video producing. I came into hoops high in the summer of 2008 , my first year in hoops high i was on CBS news Chicago for my help with Chicago bid for the 2016 Olympics. I really think Hoops high is a place where you not only work but where you also have fun and meet new friends.

-Nayati Johnson Jr.-Sophomore at Collins Academy

fsm fundraising-free spirit media

The FSM fundraiser is coming up, One of the biggest things right now for Hoops High and Free Spirit Media .It is to help us buy new equipment. We are also doing a live switch to let our supporters give us more support .The fundraiser allows for the supporters of Hoops High and free spirit media,To see what we learn and what we love to do.It should be fun.We have several members of the Hoops High crew

Sheora Hart (Sideline Reporter)

Hi I am Sheora Hart a senior at North Lawndale College Prep. This is my first year working with HoopsHIGH and it has made such a difference in my life. Before working here my mind was set on a totally different field when I reach college. This experience has broadened my horizons when it comes down to choices I make and where I see myself in the future. I had my mind set on being a Business major but I was not sure which field of business I would major in. I loved cooking so I figured why not major in that? However, cooking would only get a person so far, and I wanted more. When I began working here I was not sure what I was stepping into, I just realy wanted to step out of my comfort zone and try something I would not normally go for. I had never seen myself working a camera, editng games, announcing, sideline reporting producing, or even sideline reporting, but here I am.
After joining this crew it changed what I thought I enjoyed doing for a long time. I found talents within myself that I never knew were there to begin with. That made me realize that I have more talents than I let myself believe I have and can do more than I allow my mind and eyes to see. Working here not only made me realize what I had talent wise, but it was also a drive to help me do more and better in school. Whenever I got an award or did a good paper I would come to work and get e-mails congratulating me on doing such a great job at school as well as work. Getting payed is a good thing but there are so many other great things that come with working with HoopsHIGH. Getting noticed for the good things you do and hard work you do makes a person want to work even harder.
Working with HoopsHIGH has been such a great opportunity for me. I meet lots of new important people. It allowed me to make friends with people I never would have hung out with. They are truly understanding and helpful, and whenever i was going through things they never judged. They make sure where ever you are that you are comfortable and you do not feel like you are in any danger. They are very trust worthy and after working with the same people for so long you begin to get used to those faces and it makes you feel like you are a family. HoopsHIGH is much more than a job or something you can just put on a resume and say you did something. HoopsHIGH is a family and an oppotunity to not only do better, but better yourself as a person. So as you can see my expierence working with HoopsHIGH has been a great one and I hope to have the same expirence with any future jobs I receive.

S. Russell's Amazing Experience

I have been working with Hoops High for one and a half years and I had a wonderful time and I wish I can have many more adventurous times working with the cast in Hoops High. I got a chance to experience new things and go new places. I also was able to meet new friends while working and I learned how to communicate with different types of people. I learned When ever I made a mistake, I was strongly encouraged to better by my instructors as well as my peers. Therefore, I would highly recommend this program for any and every student who is willing to be challenged in the media field, as well as a person.

Asm's finest

hoops high as been a great experience for me the three years that i have been doing doing it I have met great chicago celeberities such as Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Scottie Pippen and sports broadcaster Ryan Baker from channel 5 news. Also by me being in hoops high i witness alot of action from great athletes at the high-school level i also get the opportunite to go to all of the high-schools and see there stars. This is also an advantage for my career because i also want to go into the sports field dealing with the media imma have the upper-hand to when it comes time for my career in that announcing booth for real or sitting courtside. This is gives me something fun to do after-school instead of just being out-side getting into trouble. Im also always excited to come to this job because we always have fun no matter what we are doing setting up or wrapping up and we have two great bosses who actually listen to us and take what we say into consideration.

this is how i roll

When i first started at Hoops High, you wouldn't guess what I thought it was. I actually thought Hoops High was a program focused completely on playing basketball. I thought it was a program similar to the After School Matters program Sports 37. After talking to a former staff member Jesse Weiler, he informed me that Hoops High was a After School Matters program based around filming sports. I love to be on camera not behind, so when my job at Hoops High was a camera women it was quite different for me. Before I was camera women though I chose to be an announcer. That was the most difficult job at Hoops High, but I thought I could conquer it. After seeing that what I was getting myself into wasn't worth it, I soon chose to be a baseline camera. After doing this for two years, and continuously getting hit with the ball, either in the face or ear, I wanted to just give up. I loved Hoops High, but I couldn't keep getting hurt with the ball and being embarrassed in front of a gym room full of people. I got hit so many times I thought I was the ball. After getting a bunch of new faces on the advanced crew, I thought I would change my place, I decided to become the main camera. Ever since I made that decision I have gotten a lot of good reviews, and even a article in the popular teens magazine True Star. In the future I plan to use this special talent of mines to be a minor in college and maybe a second job on the side of my career.

I have taken a lot of classes that had something to do with broadcasting production. I have always wanted to understand the process of video production and how everything works. With my mind overflowing with interesting thoughts and wonders of the fabulous world of production, I thought what more of a wonderful and exciting way to experience, and take part in the understanding of the production world than to work for HoopsHIGH.

Ever since I have been working for HoopsHIGH, I have fulfilled my goal of comprehending the production world. With the help of Shaun, Ryan and the rest of the hard working crew, they helped me continue establishing the goal of making HoopsHIGH the best of the greatest. I get along with everyone, and I aid in making the process easier upon ourselves. I love being apart of the best crew in town.

I would not take back working for HoopsHIGH for anything in the world. The experience that I have obtained is incredible. If I could, I would have most definitely requested on participating a long time ago. I love the work place. Besides that it is cosy, and comfortable, it's the peers and co-workers that makes it fun working for HoopsHIGH. If I were a person that wanted great instructions in the production filled, I would most definitely tell them to inquire more information about HoopsHIGH. Once you get the hang of it I guarantee you would love it!