Staff Q&As: Jordan Helmbrecht

Name: Jordan Helmbrecht

Grade: 12

Position: Staff Writer

Semesters spent on TCT: 3

1. Why did you decide to join TCT?

“I joined TCT because Mr. George encouraged me to take the class and because I found that, most of the time, I actually enjoyed writing.”

2. How has TCT helped you grow as a writer and person?

“TCT has helped me grow as a writer and a person in a lot of different ways. I definitely was pushed as a writer in terms of having to write different types of stories with different methods, and I also was able to find my voice as a writer through having to publish weekly. In terms of helping me grow as a person, TCT helped me realize I really enjoy a lot of things I had no idea I had a passion for.”

3. If you were a type of cheese, what type of cheese would you be?

“If I were a cheese I would say I would be Pepper Jack: a little bit of sweet, little bit of spicy.”

4. What is your favorite thing about writing?

“My favorite thing about writing is the freedom it allows. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to writing, and I can express any thought, any idea, and any story I want through my own choice of words.”

5. What’s your funniest story of complications while working on a story? 

“One of my funniest complications that happened while writing a story was while I was writing a feature. I was sick, so I was writing from home, and so I had to email my sources to get their quotes. I accidentally mixed up one of my sources and emailed the completely wrong person, and they emailed me back very blatantly letting me know I had the wrong person. At first, I was super embarrassed, but a little later, I got quite a laugh out of the whole situation.”

6. Who’s your favorite literary character and why?

“I cannot pick a single favorite literary character because I have too many, but one of my favorites is June Iparis from the book Legend. She is intelligent and daring, and she looks to uncover the secrets which are obscured from her. I constantly loved following her actions in the series.”

7. What is your favorite type of story to write and why? 

“My favorite type of story to write is editorials. I love discussing controversial topics, and editorials allow me to present all different views on different issues that are occurring. Not only am I allowing myself to continuously practice writing, but I am learning more about the world around me. Editorials allow me the freedom to portray my opinions and ideas on real-world issues.”

8. What are your aspirations for the upcoming decade?

“Honestly, I don’t really know what my aspirations for the upcoming decade are. Considering the fact that I am heading into college, the possibilities of what this decade could bring are unpredictable. There are lots of aspirations I have for this decade, but they all attend to different things. What I hope for most is that I’ll find the things in life I love most and explore the world more than I have. Lots of different things could happen, and I’m just excited to see where this decade takes me.”