Why is my major me?
It’s me because it makes me feel great, powerful. When thinking about my future as a kid, I always played pretend but growing up I wasn’t sure. Being a teenager I wanted to model because I was a selfie addict, which led me to try print modeling from one of those kiosks at the mall.
Of course, I gave it a shot and all I got was a ton of money sucked out of my mother’s pocket. Months later I got a phone call for the hope of being in a commercial with no callback. Trial and error are what I called it, so I moved on.
After giving it some thought, I realized I wanted a future on camera but something more down to earth. So I started college.
In the beginning…
I was a little lost as many students can be.
I attended Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY. One class I took was Introduction to Broadcast. In this class, I learned about the history of the industry and what it’s like to produce television and radio broadcasts. For one project, the students were instructed by Professor Winston Mitchell to research newspapers for a story to report on a live mock broadcast.
In addition to researching this, I thought about how I would report the story. I thought back to how I grew up watching News 12 every morning before school to this day, thinking about how they speak to get viewers’ attention.
For the latest local info go to news12.com
I made up a story about a man streaking through a football field. The moment I read the words I’d written and looked at the camera, it was as if a switch turned on a light in me. I can honestly say that I was truly electrified in that experience and I knew that’s what I was meant to do with my life.
Once the class played back the tape to watch in full, Professor Mitchell said to me
“You have potential, I can see you doing this one day.”
that confirmation made the experience that much more gratifying.
A few years later…
I became a Purple Knight attending the University of Bridgeport. During my time at UB, I’ve been able to take some fantastic classes that have given me opportunities to practice what I want to do in the real world.
For info and to become a Purple Knight go to University of Bridgeport
I’ve taken Writing for Media with Professor Douglas House which was one of my favorite classes and professors. Throughout the time I’ve come to know him he’s been able to give me so much help with other projects including proofreading and editing my writing samples for internships.
“Always do what you love and what you’re passionate about.”
I also took Broadcast TV and News with Professor Peter Van Geldern and Magazine and Feature Writing with legendary news anchor and reporter Kristie Olds of News 12.
These classes had the most impact on me because I was able to do assignments that got me hands-on practice for my future career.
When I was taking Writing for Media, I was able to practice writing stories and advertisements for newspapers as well as taking video and photos. I was able to practice doing an on-camera interview and a photojournalism assignment that made me find a new hobby in landscape photography.
Magazine and Feature Writing was the perfect class to learn the best tips on how to get and do interviews, how to find an angle, how to keep readers interested and much more. Then, I took Broadcast TV and News where I got to learn what happens behind the scenes and how to operate equipment in a studio as well as how to edit footage and audio.
My professor Douglas House arranged for WTNH news anchor Laura Hutchinson to speak to a group of Mass Communications students about her life and career. I truly found it inspiring. From this meeting, I was able to personally contact her and arrange an on-camera interview for an assignment.
On that day, I arrived at WTNH studio in New Haven, CT and met with Laura and from the moment I walked into the news office I felt as if I was floating. I felt so electrified and meeting the staff it was such a warm inviting atmosphere. I was given a tour of the office and studio seeing how a typical day goes and watching a live showing of a cooking segment as well as a staff introduction.
Laura was nice enough to give me some professional career advice
- follow your dreams
- don’t let any of your fears cloud you
- don’t burn bridges
- work hard and apply yourself
- build relationships and keep them
- keep a clean face on social media,
- maintain a professional profile
“It really takes time and dedication.”
The feeling I got being there was something I can’t begin to explain in a way that will make sense to the giddiness I felt from the day.
To learn more about Laura and the staff along with local news go to WTNH News 8
The more I thought about my future over the years, the more I thought forget modeling. All that glitz and glam seems cool, but it doesn’t compare to the feeling of being able to contribute to people. Being able to spread the word about the happenings of real life is what brings me joy.
Everything about broadcast journalism gives me a feeling that I wouldn’t give up or change for anyone or anything.
I feel in love with this career path because I like that I’m able to do something that matters, to be able to inform people, to know what I want to do is important to people makes me feel proud.
This is why my major is me.
Photo Fun 