This year’s trip to STN in LA was genuinely one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. We started off strong with an unbelievable tour of LA, and all of the iconic places in California, and then went right into competitions.

    I couldn’t have asked for a better Sweet Sixteen show. All of our stories were on point and I’m very proud of my team, Adi and Alexis, for pulling through and coming out with one of the best segments on the show! Our team has come a long way, and am so happy I had the opportunity to work with them.

    Furthermore, the next couple of days consisted of individual competitions. I can whole-heartedly say everyone did incredible in his or her competitions. As my competition approached I was very nervous… For the next person competing in the 60sec Silent Film, here is my advice: Have good timing; I suggest you spend a maximum of 30min of the production time thinking of an idea and the rest of the time filming. Also, storyboarding helped a lot. When I story boarded, my ideas the filming was quick and I finished on time; it was also very helpful in editing because I was able to look at the shots I planned and put them together quickly. I finished with 30min to spare and even had time to go into after effects! Additionally, when thinking of an idea make sure it is centralized around the noun verb noun they give you. In the end, the idea has to come full circle. My noun verb noun was “Someone Left This”. I started off with the boy leaving the jacket and in the end I made sure to reiterate that he had ‘left something’ by the girl handing him the note saying,  “You Left Your Jacket.” The Sixty Second Silent Film is one of the only competitions at STN where you work alone, so make sure you practice before going. I practiced almost every week for a couple of months and it helped immensely because I was able to think and plan my ideas and actions quickly. Lastly, try and stay and calm and confidant; this experience is supposed to be fun, and I had a good time executing my project. In the end the 1^st place mark was all worth the stress.    

    Congratulations to Trent Austin for his 1^st place in Sports Feature and Noah Avidan and Rachel Broccoli for their honorable mention in the Short Story Competition. Everyone else did incredible in his or her own individual competitions as well!

    We had a strong team and it all paid off when Excellence Show was announced and Cooper City was awarded Best Weekly Show in the Nation! Unfortunately, we didn’t take home Sweet Sixteen, but I know our show was one of the best. Besides, winning the Excellence Award means that overall we are the BEST in the nation.

    This entire experience was very bonding and I love my CTV family. I want to thank Sooy and Marianne for being INCREDIBLE chaperones and the booster club for affording and making this trip happen. Finally, I want to thank Mr. Pichardo for being so supportive of everyone and helping us reach our full potentials.

    I’m still wearing my editing bracelet; I can’t believe it’s over. I’m going to miss you LA, if I could I would do it all over again. Love you guys! <3

For CTV News, I’m Jazlyn Cartaya

So STN is finally over, and it just recently occurred to me that I won’t have another experience like that again.  High school isn’t exactly the best experience, but CTV and STN have given me a reason to actually enjoy my last two years of high school. I’ve grown so close to everyone on this trip and I couldn’t be more proud of everyone. Everyone was absolutely incredible in their individual competitions and Sweet 16. I can’t even begin to explain how close I feel to all of these people. CTV truly is a second family and I’ll never forget it. Just some advice for next year, enjoy STN while you still have it. It’s the most amazing experience and it goes by way to quickly.  Don’t get caught up in the stress, make sure you try your best and have fun. Winning is one of the best feelings, but in the end it’s the connections, friendships, and learning experiences that make it all worthwhile.  I’ll remember this trip forever and hopefully someday I’ll be back in California chasing my dream.  I can’t thank Pichardo and the entire crew enough for this experience. No matter how cold the showers, how boring the seminars, or how little you sleep, STN will always be something amazing to remember. If you’re reading this and preparing for 2014 STN then good luck! Kick butt and remember CTV is the best program in the nation! I love you guys!

-Noah Avidan

With the landing of a plane, a drive home, and the time to think about STN, the depression sets in. I honestly cannot believe I’d see the day when STN would be over, forever. I’ve been to three and each one has topped the other. You honestly don’t realize it until it’s gone. I sit here writing this and thinking that 12 hours ago I was in LA. The week there went way too quickly. I remember everything so vividly, and that’s what keeps me in this sad mood. From walking into the amazing hotel for the first time, or getting into our room and being completely awed by the view. I’m remembering these things and can’t get them out of my head, not that I want too. All 20 of us have become such incredible friends and to spend this rollercoaster ride of STN with them will be something I’ll always remember. Unfortunately, it’s over. I’ve literally been preparing for this trip my entire senior year, and it’s over. I guess this is the start to the end of my last year in high school. This starts the end of CTV for me. I literally cannot put into words the emotion I feel for this. The club I tried to get into since freshman year is now coming to an end. The people that I’ve spent 2^nd hour with, and have been creating close relationships with for the past 3 years is concluding. The teacher that started off as an intimidating, loud, short little man has now become a second dad to me. Pichardo has been the greatest teacher I’ve ever known. He’s become more than a teacher and will always be someone who influenced me like no other. CTV has been everything to me throughout my highschool years and I’m never going to forget it. I honestly will never be able to mentally part with the family that I’ve grown up with, the family that has taught me more about myself rather than television. I know this was supposed to be an STN blog post, but turned into a CTV post, but who cares. I’m going to miss STN, but more importantly I’ll soon miss CTV, my second love, my second family.

For a sad CTV blog post this has been Mitchel Worley

Having the opportunity to experience STN with the people you love is like hitting the lottery. Being away with everyone for a week was not only a convention/school trip, but it was a vacation with my best friends. I’ve learned a lot on this trip and that no matter what happens, to continue to do your absolute best. I’m proud to represent the best school in the nation for tv. I’ll always remember these 2 STN’s that I had the pleasure of attending. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the greatest advisor possible…PICHARDO(: and of course we can’t forget Sooy or Marianne! And thank you to the boosters! For future students attending this one in a lifetime opportunity..enjoy and cherish every second of it. 5 days feels like 1 and you want to do it all over again!!!

JAKE MILLER (a.k.a DAD)

Writing 3,000 ft. up in the air, it ’s not until this moment that I realize the impact that this trip has had on me. I knew, before we even left, before I had even started packing, that this trip would end too fast. As excited as I was to get on the plane, I’m just as sad to be on our way home. This past week has been a ridiculous, stressful, completely amazing emotional roller coaster ride. Since I knew that this moment would come faster than I wanted, I literally cherished every single moment. Simply laying in my hotel bed and looking at our amazing view of downtown LA and the Hollywood sign in the distance, I laid there and took it all in and knew that in soon I’m going to wish I could teleport back to the very moment. So future advice, cherish your every moment during the trip.

Every day was very long and meaningful, from the laughs that brought us to tears, that make me smile just reliving them, to the shattering and heart breaking disappointment of not hearing our name called for Sweet 16. This has been such an amazing experience, to say the least. This group of people have made me truly realize what it is to be a team. The way we encouraged each other throughout the entire trip like we were all brother and sister, was so touching. Constantly praising each other with proud commentary on individual competitions, and giving a shoulder to cry on for disappointments that nobody could have expected. I have never felt so much apart of a team as I do after this trip. The group text that drained all of our phones battery’s but kept us a bit too entertained while in seminars, the constant making fun and laughing at each other, and the heart to heart talks have made this trip worth while. I wouldn’t have chosen anybody else to experience this with. I couldn’t be happier with the end result of our Sweet 16 episode(other than my hair covering the CTV logo on my shirt).

I am so unbelievably proud of everyone, we literally put our entire hearts into those 16 hours. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner who sacrificed his right leg to be my chair as I edited and he kneeled on one knee with VERY limited space around us. Lex and Ana, we worked as 3 people but one brain while doing our Spot Feature story. I’m shocked that we didn’t place or get honorable mention, but I honestly couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

The memories that I’m taking away from this trip are amazing and I will relive them over and over again. I am so so proud of us, and I cant stress that enough. In my heart we walked out winning first in everything. And pichardo, chardanay, pichotle, and whatever other names we created for you during this trip, though you bust our asses about every freaking thing, you have molded us to put 110% into everything that we lay our fingers on. Your b**tching and whining about the miniscule details has taught us things that has now been engraved in our work ethic. The DEVOTION you have for CTV is the sole reason that CTV is what it is today. Oh and your impersonations of me had me dying the whole trip, I’m laughing now just thinking about it.

Thank you Sooy and Marianne for being the best, most supportive chaperones we could have asked for. All in all, this has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Though it is extremely disappointing coming home without a title for sweet 16, there is nothing we could have done differently or better, in my opinion. And that’s enough for me to walk out of this with pride and satisfaction. Sorry for the novel. I love you all and thank you Pichardo for giving us this opportunity and experience, it has truly been amazing.

-The Asian

Wow. That is all I have to say, wow. This experience was unlike any other I have ever had. It just sucks that I was only able to be apart of it once. Being in a professional environment with the best of the best is an amazing feeling. It’s so nice to be in an atmosphere where people around you really understand how much hard work, effort, and devotion is put into what we do. But I am most grateful for having the chance to become even closer to my CTV family. I love everyone here so much, and living with them, seeing them 24 hours a day for a week, was the best part of this entire trip. BTW, rooming and becoming closer to James was one of the best parts of STN for me. The awards are nice, competing is exhilarating, but this whole thing brings us closer as a family, creating bonds that normal clubs will never realize. It just sucks that its over. I will never again compete with them. We will never come together again to do this. Its over for me. I’ve worked so hard to get to this moment, and now it’s over. I don’t want it to be over just yet. I just scratched the surface. What sucks the most is that I’ve only had one year in CTV. And it’s already over. My biggest regret is not getting into CTV earlier. The people that I’ve met and grown so close to in this class are amazing. They are so unique, and talented, hilarious, and so loving. It may sound cliche to say but we truly are a family. I trust and know I can count on everyone that is sitting right next to me. As I sit here writing this, and think back on this trip, I always tear up because I know its over, but I can’t help but smile because I am so grateful for every opportunity I have had. Even now as i sit in the airport, Brooke and I are laughing hysterically, practically crying, for absolutely no reason at all. We all are so comfortable with each other, we all know each other so well, and we all love each other. Regardless of what we won and what we didn’t, STN 2013 was truly a success. The beginning of the awards ceremony was very rough, not even placing in Sweet 16, a complete shock because our show was absolutely amazing, and many of our individual competitions. But that turned around when Jazz took home the first award of the day for CTV for 60 sec silent film, and first place no less. We ended up taking another 1st place thanks to trent and his amazing sports story, and an honorable mention for Noah and Broc for their astounding short story. Oh yeah, we also won the excellence award for the best weekly show in America, meaning we’re still number 1!!!!!! We totally would have won music video, but unfortunately exporting took longer than expected. The music video Mitch, James, and Maddie created took my breath away. The amount of creativity and talent in them is unbelievable and unmatched by anyone. But it’s ok because they don’t need an award to know they are the best, they did an amazing job, anyone anywhere would agree. I was disappointed that I didn’t even place in my individual competition, commercial, with Jordan and Taylor, especially because I wanted to place for Mitch, but regardless I am still immensely proud of us. I am so proud of all of us. Look at how far we have come. We did amazing regardless of the outcome. I will never cease to be amazed by the talent that flows through CTV. But I owe my biggest thanks, and am most grateful for Pichardo. Pichardo taught me everything, he gave me this opportunity, and most importantly, he believed in me. Pichardo pushed me because he saw the potential in me. And I am so thankful for that because it is that very reason that I am here writing on this blog right now. He truly wanted me to succeed, and I feel like I have. I never thought in a million years that I would be in this position. I never even thought I could do what I now think of as something fun that I love to do week in and week out. I am so grateful for everything he has done for me. I love Chardo, and everyone in CTV and they will always hold a special place in my heart. This experience will always hold a special place in my heart. And I will never forget one minute of it. 

For CTV news, and for Student Television Network for the last time, This is Jordan Patrick reporting :)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

As I sit here in the airport, I decided to blog my amazing week. So today, my second and last ever STN ended. These days here in LA with my second family have been the best days of my life. Every single second of every single day was cherished and will forever remain in my memories. Because of STN I have become close to some of the most amazing people I could have ever met. People I never expected to get close to. I literally can not believe that it is over and as I type these very words I am crying. I wish already that I could go back to the beginning and re-live it, over, and over, and over again. The extremely long 18 hour days outside our room followed by a 5 hour nap and then to our competitions, all with very little food were well worth it. And that’s an understatement. This week, we came together to become more than just a TV production class, but we became one big happy and sad family, but we were always happy or sad together. Because we do everything together, as one. This experience here at STN can not be put into words but I am doing my best. Sweet 16 was amazing!! Everyone worked harder than ever and produced incredible stories that came together to create an incredible show! I don’t know why we didn’t place at all but we placed in our hearts. And to my partner, my little asian! Thank you so much for everything! You have been the best partner I’ve ever worked with! You did absolutely amazing!! So on to our individual competitions! You all had the best competition entries that I have seen and I could not be more proud of all of you! It kills me that music video didn’t make deadline! that was the best student made music video ever! Mitch, James, and Maddie! AMAZING JOB!! Absolutely amazing! Wasim, your recap»»»> phenomenal!!! And to the rest of you, incredible job!!! I’m beyond proud of you all! Awards……..were the saddest and greatest moments of the whole week! I cried when I didn’t hear our name, over and over again. For the individual competitions at first and then for Sweet 16. Then, hope came when Jazzy came up big and brought home 1st place. Then, the most amazing thing happened to me. As I was being gripped by all the girls around me supporting me, I heard both honorable mentions, then 3rd place. And then 2nd place. Then my heart stopped in that second pause after “And the first place winner for Sports Highlights is.” But then I heard Coop and WE just went crazy! Everyone was yelling and screaming for me. I’ve never hugged Pichardo so hard before. I think he was tearing up. That feeling of getting first place in the nation, followed immediately by the cheering of my family was paired with the feeling of watch 2700 students and staff watch a segment that I created. And seeing my segment on 4 giant screens. There is not a feeling that could even compare to how amazing it was! I will never ever forget it! I felt so confident after I finished my competition on Saturday that I could stay still and I couldn’t stop smiling! It paid off! (Tip to future STNers, go into you contest serious and confident, leave smiling and even more confident and PROUD!) Then Noah and Broccoli got honorable mention!! So proud!! It was such a great short story! And then, the second most amazing thing happened……our name was said, one last time, for me to hear at an STN Convention. We won the Excellence Award! Once again, claiming and proving that we have the number 1 weekly news show in the nation. I screamed so loud and for so long that I almost blacked out. It made up for all the loses we had received and was a great way to close our week in LA! We were so happy! And proud! And a family! Gosh! What I would do to go back 12 hours to re-live those moment when our schools name was announced, and when I won, and when we won! To all future STNers, writing this has been the hardest thing ever, and I’ve been crying so much. Live every second you are there and enjoy it! Savor and cherish every moment! Also!!!!!! LISTEN TO PICHARDO!! He pushed me over and over to practice my VOs for Sports Highlights. I did. Look what happened! First place in the nation! And when he yells at you, do not get upset! Just learn from what he says and from your mistakes! Come prepared to STN! Don’t forget cords, splitters, anything you may need in any situation! Oh and sell carwash tickets………ALL of them! And with that I can finally say good luck to you all next year and in years to come!! Someone please break the LA Sweet 16 curse. We should have, but you will!

To everyone that went to STN, I love you all so much and I am so proud of you all! Thank you for making this experience so amazing! Thank you Pichardo! Thank you Marianne! Thank you Sooy Sauce! Thank you Booster Club!! You all made this trip possible!

Well, for the last possible time from STN, for CTV Sports, I’m Trent Austin reporting!!

After last years experience at STN, I didn’t think anything could have been better and I was completely wrong. This week has been the most amazing time of my life and I couldn’t have imagined sharing it with any other group of people. I love each and every one of you so much it hurts. Every moment that we have spent together I will cherish forever and I have learned so much and look up to all of you. I still have no clue how our Sweet 16 did not win but none of it matters anymore. Our show was amazing and we all know in our hearts that it was probably the best show we have done together and the award doesn’t matter. Maddie and Alexis were the best partners to work with and I wouldn’t have wanted to be with that crazy rabbit lady with anyone else. Each competition we competed was so great and I’m so proud of every single one of us. This may have been the most stressful week of my life but its all completely worth it. I think I even scared some people with how stressed I got during Movie Trailer, but in the end I loved the final product and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner. Special congrats to Trent, Jazzy, Noah, and Broccoli for being beyond amazing and changing our luck at the closing ceremony. The closing ceremony started off extremely rough. Still do not understand how recap didn’t place but Wasim worked harder than I ever seen him and I’m so proud. I literally lost all hope after they didn’t announce our name at ALL for sweet 16. Nothing else mattered and I completely forgot that we still had Excellence Show. When it came time for the excellence award to be announced, i was so mad and had no hope that i didn’t even want to pay attention. I was completely caught off guard when they announced that cooper city high school had just won. That feeling is completely indescribable and there is no way for me to even express this in words right now. After last year winning sweet 16 i didn’t think anything could have been better and i was completely proved wrong (other than seeing 3 glee cast members). I can’t believe that its over. This was my second and FINAL STN experience and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. This will always stay in my heart and forever be the greatest experience of my life. CTV, along with each and every one of you will always be apart of me. And Pichardo,I can’t express how much you mean to me and what you have done for me. I have learned so much from you and I appreciate everything you do. I love you all so much. Thank you for making this the most amazing experience of my life <3