On Jan. 7, 2026, Viper Times staff members Jacob Ceron, Raquel Barnard, Graciella Perez, Magnolia Amadeus, and Antonio Larson spoke with Verrado High School Freshmen during the FX Pathway Tour.
The FX Pathway is an event designed for Freshmen Experience classes to help students explore Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses they may want to take throughout their high school careers. The tour gives students insight into potential real-world career paths while allowing them to learn more about hands-on classes offered at Verrado.
During the event, freshmen were able to choose from several pathways, including Sports Medicine, Marketing Principles, Theatre, Digital Media and Journalism, and Digital Photography.
One of the featured courses was Digital Media and Journalism I and II, also known as The Viper Times. The class is a student-run newspaper supported by an adviser who assists when needed. Students are assigned weekly stories and projects, ranging from reporting on real-world issues to producing podcasts, including true crime episodes.
A key takeaway from the journalism pathway is storytelling. Students learn how to tell stories through multiple forms of media, whether covering news or highlighting individuals in the community. Students enrolled in the course are also automatically members of FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), which provides leadership opportunities, competitive events, and potential scholarships.
“We’re excited to welcome more students into this course next year, and we’re looking forward to adding another class,” said Editor at Large, Raquel Barnard.
When asked about their interests, many freshmen shared that their top choices included Sports Medicine, Digital Photography, and Digital Media and Journalism. Freshman Karter Gold said Digital Media was among his top three choices because “I like the fact that I would be able to cover sports, along with other things the class has to offer.”
Another student, Everett Torrance, said he liked both Digital Photography and Digital Media and Journalism because “They let you learn Adobe and how to edit photos.”
Sports Medicine was another popular option. The course is interactive and hands-on, teaching students basic anatomy while demonstrating how medicine is used in athletics. It is ideal for students interested in healthcare, sports, or learning more about how the human body works. The class also introduces students to injury evaluation and treatment through both classroom scenarios and real-game observations, offering hands-on athletic training experience.
Digital Photography also drew strong interest from students. The course focuses on camera skills, photo composition, and editing techniques. Students learn to use Adobe software, with step-by-step instruction from photography teacher Vernon Beard. One project includes creating a digital transparent watermark to protect students’ work throughout the year.
Overall, the FX Pathway Tour was a valuable experience for freshmen, helping them make informed decisions about their future classes. The event gave students a better understanding of what each course offers, and it was a successful opportunity to introduce potential new members to the Viper Times community.