Note: As the year winds down # and graduation approaches # the editors at The Crow’s Nest want to offer their insight on life at USF St. Petersburg. This is the second in a three-part series.
We all have to start somewhere. For me, it was when I transfered into USF St. Petersburg as a junior.
It’s like I wasted the first 20-something years and I got a fresh start. I knew what I wanted to do, or I at least had an idea, but I always found trouble in getting the right guidance from people I respected.
I wanted to be a sports writer. I knew I had the passion and knowledge for it. But how could I get there?
I dreaded attending classes. So, for my entire first year at USFSP I took mostly online courses. What a mistake. One of my first in-person classes was with Professor Mary Shedden. That’s where I began to listen. I accepted the fact that I was nowhere near where I needed to be and took all the advice she would offer.
After learning the basic form of writing news stories and how to rid excessive details, I told her I was eager for experience, but didn’t know where to look.
She pointed me in the direction of The Crow’s Nest.
She told me to show initiative and start writing as much as possible.
I learned that The Crow’s Nest sports editor position was opening up after the semester. I decided to start attending the meetings in hopes of getting a story or two pitched my way.
My first assignment was covering a baseball club game. I emailed the club president and informed him I would be attending the game and he told me that after the game his team would be open to interviews. I tracked stats throughout the game and snagged my interviews after. I wrote the story that night.
Then, for the following issue, I wrote a small piece about the basketball team’s new coach. Nothing special; just thought it was worth a story, considering his background.
My third and final story of the semester was a profile on another student who partakes in taekwondo competitions. It was my first attempt at a profile story. None of the three articles were close to my best work, but they all provided something different.
The following semester I was hired as the sports editor.
I began covering as many sporting events as possible that were related to USF and USFSP.
First, the football team. Then, I kept up with the baseball club. Basketball and sailing followed. The first semester was not easy. The second was better. I started thinking outside the box for story ideas, as insisted by my faculty adviser, Professor Rob Hooker.
I started aiming higher. I started applying for credentials to every major sporting event in the Tampa Bay area. I interviewed several household names, like Joe Flacco, Drew Brees, Mike Singletary, Geno Auriemma and Larry Brown, for the student paper.
While at these events, I studied the more experienced reporters; the ones who do this for a living. I watched how they asked questions, why they asked that question and noticed the little things they’d pick up on. Then I’d read their final piece in the paper or online and let them know when I enjoyed something they wrote. I watched the entire process.
I’d often tell them how jealous I was of their jobs. They’d be modest about it, but they know they love what they do. And I can’t wait for the day that I dread covering a major sporting event, because that’s when I know I made it.
I guess you can say I got all the experience I could while at USFSP and then some. I wanted to be better # now I am. I accept that I’m still not perfect. I’ve only been writing for about two years. I want to spend the next 30 doing it, so there’s no time to be stubborn.
If you put forth an honest effort and can handle constructive criticism without arguing back, you can go far. A lot of people say they can, but how many of those people have trashed articles they’ve spent hours on? How many actually go back and rewrite their old stories? You should try it sometime. I am my worst critic.
Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable. Some journalists don’t mind moving to other towns or states because of the challenge. It doesn’t matter what you degree is in. Find what you like and do whatever it takes to pursue it. Follow your bliss.
I have a job, an internship and I live over an hour away. I have four classes just like anyone else, and I live in a house by myself. I’ve learned that “I don’t have time” is not a good excuse, because you will never have enough time.
If you’re a young journalism student, you should write and write and write. You won’t notice the change right away, but when you’re at the point of graduation, you’ll wish you could go back and rewrite your stories to reprint them. It is the evolution of writing and reporting.
Although the professors at USFSP are much better suited for the role, I try to help those who come to me with questions and want advice on something. No one told me who to contact when covering these events. So, I’m going to tell you what I was told.
Show some initiative, make some calls and send some emails. Your resources are there, and even if I am one of them, use them.
