Camas High School Senior, Chase Muro is a four-year veteran and well known in the Camas journalism community. He joined journalism because his older sister recommended the class to him, he also had and still kind of has, an interest in broadcast journalism. He cares about telling stories because he thinks the media platform is a great way of getting peoples’ stories, who aren’t able to do it themselves, out into the world.

Muro said, “I am advocating for people who may not be able to advocate for themselves.”

He also enjoys telling stories because it is a way to help the reader gain knowledge, while still being able to put a smile on their face.

Here is Muro’s story…

As a Freshman, when he joined journalism, he was not the strongest writer. He had to work to overcome many obstacles but with all his experiences and perseverance, his skills have grown tremendously.

He said, “I wanted to challenge myself so I decided to join journalism, which meant I had to push through that wall a little bit and grow in the asset of writing year after year.”

Through the up and downs, Muro has stuck with this class. In the beginning, it was not because of the writing, in fact, it was because of all the people he had the chance to meet.

Muro says, “I have always had an interest in the people. I’ve always liked the people I met in class, liked the people I’ve interviewed, always liked Mrs. Hunting. The people and connections I made weighed out the writing part.”

Aside from journalism, playing with his cat, basketball, and schoolwork, Muro finds a lot of joy in fishing. It has been one of his favorite pastimes during COVID.

Muro got into fishing after his upcoming AAU basketball season, with his friends, was canceled. He fell into a hole and didn’t know what to do. One day last spring, Muro’s father, Mike, recommended that he should get back into the fishing game, and Muro gladly agreed.

Muro says, “When I got back on the water, I fell in love again. I knew it, I knew this is what I wanted to spend all my free time doing.”

It took time, patience, and dedication, but with all his experiences in journalism and fishing, they have both played a big role in the person and fisherman he is today.

Muro believes fishing helped him stay strong during this long difficult lockdown, it helped him unlock new happiness he has never felt before. 

“When you feel that first bite on your line, your mind circles back to all the hard work you put into this sport, and I think it’s safe to say that’s the best feeling I have ever felt,” he says.

As for journalism, one of the greatest skills he has learned is how rewarding going out of your comfort zone can be.

“It can be kind of intimidating, sometimes, interviewing the superintendent or the principal one on one… it’s definitely a nerve-racking thing, it gives you butterflies, but it opens the door to new possibilities and opportunities. After you get done with things like that it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy, so you’re more confident again… which is an important thing,” he said.

The future for Muro is bright.  He has aspirations to take his fishing hobby to the next level by going on a fishing trip to River Po in Italy and look for some record size catfish in the deep muddy river.  As well continue, for the rest of his senior year, as one of the two co-editors in chief for journalism, which is proof that his commitment and growth in writing has, in fact, paid off.

Camasonian journalists Daisy Gooch and Blake Bell contributed to this article.