MY STORIES:

• New plans for old problems
• Got the chops to be a cop?
• Same game, different treatment? Title IX questions still linger in Utah athletics

REFLECTIVE BLOG:

“I want to do that.” “That’s what I was meant to do.” “That will be me someday.” These are all phrases that go through my head when I watch any sports analysts on ESPN. For a guy in Salt Lake City, Utah, that is a bold statement but one that I also fully believe in.

My intermediate reporting class this semester has eliminated most of my fear in going for that goal. It sounds slightly pathetic and timid but my biggest weakness has always been the initial approach. Approaching somebody I have never seen or met and asking them questions goes against what we are all taught as kids, “don’t talk to strangers.” I did not know I would have to dive in so deep with this class, but I learned quickly.

My background is in sports and I would equate the fear I had with approaching random people to the fear I had on the basketball court. I always had a unique confidence in myself when I played basketball but that came with the fear of somebody being better than me and them beating me. I would tell myself, “no fear,” and repeat it to myself all the time. I ended up taking this approach with my stories in intermediate reporting. If I didn’t have fear then I would succeed. This turned out to be the case.

I have a long way to go, and am happy to have another year of school to work on getting better. I know I can improve in a number of areas, talking to people being one, but the improvement I have made in the past four months shows me I can definitely make that happen.

ABOUT ME:

I am a junior majoring in journalism at the University of Utah. I am 20 years old and was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, I lived on Andrews Air Force Base for three years when I was younger. I am hoping to graduate within the next year and want to jump right into a journalism career.

My ultimate goal is to become a sports anchor on ESPN, but I know that will take time. I know if I want to reach that goal then I have to be committed to pushing myself when it comes to my career. I currently host my own sports radio show called “The Redone” at the University of Utah on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The show can be found on kuteradio.org. I know this experience will help me get a strong understanding of the different steps that I should take in order for me to succeed.

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