COVID wasn't the only pandemic our school was dealing with when I wrote this article. As a then-sophomore, I noticed the spike in nicotine use on campus with the return of students from virtual learning, and I knew I wanted to cover the dangers of this activity. Speaking to students who had almost been hospitalized due to laced vapes, I appreciated their openness about their actions and growth in mindset and habits. Due to the story topic, I used anonymous sourcing for the student who had almost been hospitalized. For stories that deal with sensitive topics, such as nicotine and drug use, it is important to make sure students feel comfortable when telling their story, even if that
requires anonymity.