TrueStar Staff 
A lot of youth my age could be doing anything they desire during spring break. We could be partying, we could be out of the state and exploring places we have never been before, but I chose to stay home. This year, I was very delighted to attend True Star’s 2026 Spring Break Digital Media Boot Camp. I was pretty excited about it as I counted down the days leading up to day one.
If I had to pick a particular day out of the week that I enjoyed most, it would be day two. That Tuesday, production day, was very exciting for me because I got to do some videography for our upcoming project which was a mini doc with the theme “Dear Chicago”. At first I was a bit skeptical because part of the challenge was to only take place around the True Star premises. My tone shifted once I got to see just how many places you can take shots of in the Bronzeville area. We walked around King Drive, just a few feet from the building, and there were places and murals I had never seen before! It made me realize that we don’t have to travel far in order to see the finer things in life, including murals with messages that impact the youth of today.
My biggest take away from this wonderful experience was learning about what it takes to make a documentary, such as having a theme with a goal in mind that has a beginning, middle, and end. It was fun being able to actually put a documentary together because it helped me sharpen my skills by working with my team to create a script.
My ultimate favorite part of the Boot Camp was meeting my peers! I was very nervous since I was very different from everyone in the room, but seeing how the program brought me new friends, I couldn’t be happier. True Star helped me get comfortable and learn from individuals who have different backgrounds than me. I would definitely recommend this program to my broadcasting peers at Back of the Yards College Prep High School. The Boot Camp went in depth into digital media by giving us an assignment that helped brighten my understanding. This experience gave me knowledge that I can pass onto my classmates back in my broadcasting class.
True Star is not just a non-profit organization, it’s a place that gave me an experience that I wish everyone could have. True Star, you are truly unforgettable. Thank you for considering me. I hope to see you again.
By Beatriz Rosales, Senior, Back of the Yards College Prep High School
