What started off as a love of music for senior Freya Pederson, Radio and Advanced TV (ATV) Station Manager, evolved into her passion for radio, where she found herself not just listening to songs, but choosing which tunes reach the audience.
Pederson started out as a freshman with little knowledge of communications. After signing up for Introduction to Broadcasting her freshman year, Pederson quickly got involved in as many projects and productions as she could. Four years later, she handles the paperwork and logistics of the stations and teaches new students how to create projects, Pederson added. Opportunities such as having her own radio show twice a week on WGBK, GBS’s radio station, working on the Glenbrook South Reports, writing album reviews, and filming South’s various performance shows are some of the reasons why Pederson enjoys participating in so many parts of the Broadcasting Department, Pederson said.
“What got me this role was just being very involved,” Pederson said. “There’s a lot of projects that we have that aren’t necessarily part of the class and are part of what makes it co-curricular.”
From the second semester of her sophomore year through the end of her junior year, Pederson was the Music Director for WGBK, and with that position she was able to curate what listeners would hear on the station. Discovering new music through this role is one of the most rewarding parts of her broadcast journey, Pederson added.
“It’s crazy [that] it’s a public, real station anyone can listen to, and they’re hearing music I chose,” Pederson said. “We would get hundreds of emails everyday with music from tiny indie bands. Where else do you find out about artists
like that nowadays?”
Pederson has become a motivational role model that inspires other students to succeed, senior Kendrick Lee, Station Manager, said, who works alongside Pederson for South’s TV station. Lee said Pederson has become a great leader by making the station inviting and elevating its creativity.
“She’s definitely a well-rounded, good leader,” Lee said. “She really shines in organization and making sure that the TV program is accountable, responsible, and overall just a reliable program to be a part
of.”
Pederson is a solution-oriented leader who can be trusted to handle challenges, Lee added.
“Even if there is a problem, if there is a conflict, everyone can trust that she’ll figure it out and she’ll get it done,” he said.
Pederson’s unique mix of creativity and work ethic has shaped classroom culture by encouraging collaboration Julie Benca, Fine Arts and Television Broadcasting Teacher, said.
“Pederson has made a very positive impact on my classroom,” Benca said. “She is always excited to work on any project, help others, and truly cares about the TV and Film program as well as the Broadcasting Program as a whole.”
While the two stations require a time commitment, the teachers and students in the programs make it easy to balance them because they understand that multiple students are part of both stations, Pederson said.
“The difference between [Radio] and [TV] is pretty big, but I think it’s a good thing because I get to learn a variety of skills in each class,” Pederson said.
Broadcasting has taught Pederson essential skills including public speaking and leadership. She plans to continue her broadcasting journey by joining a radio station in college, Pederson said. She encourages everyone to take the Introduction to Broadcasting class, ask questions, and get involved as much as possible in the Broadcasting Department.
“For Radio and TV, they’re incredible communities,” Pederson said. “It’s an awesome community that’s good to get involved in.”
