Michaia Hernandez / Roundup
It’s minutes before 8 p.m., and everyone is assembled in the room dubbed “the studio.” Electric wires, some attached to computers and others to microphones are snaked along the floor.
Conversation ceases with each passing second, and all eyes are fixated on the guy sitting behind the computer as they wait for the countdown. As soon as he cues them in, everyone becomes alert, and the show begins.
This is how Pierce College student Aaron Bock,17, spends his Tuesday nights.
“Journals Out Loud” is a call-in radio program that deals primarily with issues associated with growing up. The topics frequently discussed range from friends and family to dating and school, and the audience consists mostly of teenagers.
“I love being part of the show,” said Bock. “It’s one of the highlights of my week.”
The program is hosted by Premiere Radio Networks co-founder Louise Palanker, as well as a panel of teenage advisers.
Bock was the first panelist recruited by Palanker.
Palanker decided to include the teenage panelists because she didn’t want the show to be about “an adult telling kids what to do.”
Katelyn Catalano and Austin Dosaj are the two other permanent teenagers on the panel.
“We actually often disagree because we’re so different from each other,” said Dosaj, 20.
Though Bock admits that the other two panelists were chosen because of their connection with him, he says that the reason Palanker asked them to stay was because their personalities complemented each other.
“I’d like to think that I bring some logic to the show,” said Bock. “I’m the guy who’ll say, ‘that’s nice, but let’s focus on this.'”
“Journals Out Loud” has been airing since late 2010.
“It all started with the book [‘Journals: Middle School Love & War’],” said Palanker.
The book, written by Palanker, tackles issues similar to those the radio show focuses on.
Bock was homeschooled since the age of seven and began taking classes at Pierce at the age of 13.
He will complete his associate degree requirements in a few months.
Bock prefers taking courses at Pierce rather than a public high school because he feels as though he gets a “more personal educational experience.”
According to Bock, the significant age gap between him and older college students has not proved to be a problem for him.
“I have friends who are taking classes at traditional high schools right now and they hate it there,” he said. “I, on the other hand, enjoy my classes here.”
Bock is considering becoming a film major when he transfer to a university.
“I’m also into acting, music and broadcasting,” said Bock. “I love all of it, it’s hard to narrow everything down and decide on what I want to do.”
Bock has been able to combine his interests through an online account that he and his friends created via YouTube. The account, which is under the username “toolazyforspaces”, was created two years ago.
He and his friends directed, filmed, produced, edit, and sometimes star in relatively short films that Bock describes as “lighthearted, comedic and surreal.”
Because “toolazyforspaces” is a casual project, Bock says that tasks are communal.
“We all have to learn to do everything,” he said.
According to Bock, the group is currently working on two 20-minute films that he hopes will be finished by the end of Pierce’s spring break.
“For these films, we actually using professional actors from the Screen Actors Guild,” he added.
Bock first got into broadcasting when he was around 11 years old. At the time, he was reading and recording audio of textbooks for blind students.
Bock credits his mother for the accomplishments that got him to where he is today.
“Though a lot of the [things I’ve done] are stuff that I wanted to do anyway,” he said. “I wouldn’t be as motivated without my mom acting as the driving force in my life.”
Bock doesn’t mind too much that he rarely has time to dawdle like most teenagers.
“A lot of the things that I do are fun for me,” he said. “And even if some of them aren’t as interesting, I end up doing them with people that I love.”
Bock adds that he “has very high standards for himself.”
http://journalsoutloud.tumblr.com
Pierce student Aaron Bock works with KPCRADIO.COM a student-run internet radio station. (Cesar Monge 2011)