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Find out about the UW-Milwaukee Journalism program that Ashley Walls will attend this fall.

Check out the web site of Walls' alma mater, Madison University High School.

Writing from the pain, into the passion

By Leah L. Jones
UW-Eau Claire Journalism and Beyond Mentor
Saturday, July 28, 2007

Listen to an audio version of this story.

When Ashley Walls was in middle school and early on in Madison University High School in Milwaukee, teachers had to force her to write papers, but by the time she was a senior, she was turning a required 4-6 page history paper on stem cell research into nine pages.

“I love to write daily," Walls said. "Give me a topic and I’ll write a story more than willingly.”   

This fall, Walls, 17, will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  She was drawn to UW-Milwaukee because it is close to home and the tuition is manageable, she said. 

Knowing that she wanted to write, it was a natural choice for Walls to pursue a degree in journalism.  “After being forced to write research papers,” Walls said, “I realized I would rather write than do any other subject.” 

Upon graduation, Walls aspires to become a magazine columnist, because she will have the opportunity to meet people and tell their stories. 

Walls is so eager to learn about journalism that she took advantage of the newly created Journalism and Beyond Camp at UW-Eau Claire. 

At camp, Walls is receiving what she calls a hands-on journalism experience, so she can get a taste of where journalism can take her.

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