Internationally Aware

Just last week I was covering a ballet on campus for the Mirror newspaper. What I didn’t know was that by covering this event I would gain valuable insight into what I’ve learned as a JMC major at UNC.

At the conclusion of the show I promptly tracked down sources to interview. In the middle of my third audience member interview I spotted Paul Elwood, the composer of the all original score, and Monte Black, the writer, choreographer and director of the ballet, chatting together in the aisle.

I briskly walked over to talk to them, eager for the chance to snag the insiders quotes I knew I needed to make my piece compelling. After a few minutes of chatting I had reputable quotes from the master minds behind the all-original production.

Leaving the theatre I found myself face-to-face with the lead ballet dancer. Without hesitating I pulled out my pen and notepad (old-schooling it) and asked her for a few questions.

I left the premiere of that ballet with a content feeling, knowing I would be able to write this article in a cinch. It wasn’t until later, as I was walking home, that I realized the ease with which I was able to approach the influential people whose quotes would add the valuable depth to my writing.

I was shocked. And proud. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been so thoroughly confident in my interviewing skills. This, I would say, is the most significant thing I learned in my capstone journalism class at UNC.

I learned as a journalist it is my job to be assertive and fearless no matter who I talk to or interview; it is my responsibility to do my readers justice with valuable informants and sources no matter what the topic is; and it is my privilege to be the gatekeeper of information and have the opportunity to meet all kinds people from entirely different spectrums of life.

I discovered myself as a journalist. I am confident in my ideas, my skills and, most importantly, in my ability to write.

I know there are still many things for me to learn and that I am still growing in my knowledge of this field. The thing is, I am ready to embrace what I don’t know and face controversies along the way.

As I begin my career after college I only wish that I had had the opportunity to experience a real newsroom and possibly better know what to expect in the interview process.

But hey! I’m a journalist. Flying by the seat of my pants is what I do best! Right?!

Bear Branding: Leave Your Mark gave UNC students a chance to paint their hands and have some fun decorating the campus tunnel that's usually littered with graffiti. Curious and looking to play in some paint, I got a few friends together to check it out.

Amidst the crowd I ended up running into some of my international friends from France and Saudi Arabia. It struck me that out of a crowd of over 1,000 students, it didn't matter where anyone was from, we were all here to celebrate our pride as UNC students--domestic and international alike.

The painted tunnel ended up being a more colorful and extravagant mural than the simple image of "hand-painting" I had had in my mind. Standing together and leaving hand prints on the tunnel wall, I was struck by a strong sense of unity.

I was proud of UNC for opening its doors to international students. I was proud to have a connection to the rest of the world through my international friends. And it made me happy to see that they in turn were proud to be UNC Bears.

This message of unity is a strong one that I think we can all benefit from listening to. We can all learn from each other no matter what country we call our home or what language we speak. The love that comes with friendship crosses cultural divides. And maybe a mural of hand prints can remind us that we are all in this together.

Last week was busy for the Center for International Education at UNC as they hosted an array of activities on campus for international week.

I attended the international achievement awards ceremony on March 3. Several international and domestic students where recognized for increasing global understanding and for their academic excellence.

My favorite part of the evening was the speech given by keynote speaker, Binka LeBreton. LeBreton is an environmentalist, human rights activist and author, and has lived in Brazil for the past 20 years.

Her bright smile, confident voice and British accent and her ease at the microphone were captivating to say the least. I was covering the event for multiple reasons (check out my article), and the stress of an uncertain future fast approaching was clouding my thoughts. The last thing I had expected was to glean personal motivation from the event.

LeBreton spoke about following your dreams no matter where in the world those dreams would take you. Even in times when she was uncertain LeBreton said she knew she had to follow her heart and follow whatever new adventures life threw her way.

She commended all those who are willing to take hold of each new day and chase whatever it is that makes their heart beat, whatever it is they live for.

I left that night with LeBreton's words ringing encouragement in my ears and motivation through my veins. I was reminded that no matter who you are or where you're from, the world is the stage for you to pursue and find your dreams.

What are you waiting for?

Hello and welcome to my blog! I started this blog out of the necessity to practice blogging for my capstone journalism class. We are required to do this because apparently blogging is the new journalism. Through this blog, I hope to review my own works and follow my growth as a journalist this semester. As journalists we rarely take the time to review our own work and look for areas of improvement. This blog will allow me a few of those moments when I can look in the mirror and improve what I see.

My interest in journalism began as a hobby but quickly evolved into more when I became the co-editor of my high school newspaper. It took me a few years to realize I could pursue this passion as a profession. I am now a journalism major and work as a news reporter and assistant news editor for the UNC-affiliated newspaper, The Mirror.

This semester I am reporting on international students at UNC for my beat. I have never had the chance to cover a beat and looking forward to the experience I can gain from this. The main things I hope to learn by covering a beat are how to be a better writer, how to be a better researcher and use the resources around me and also how to tap into my own creativity. Already I have seen how much work needs to go into covering a beat, because you really do want to be an expert on your topic and at the very least know all the experts!

I am a solid writer, but this strength sometimes makes it hard for me to think outside the box and get creative with my writing. I have so many ideas for stories in my head, but it is difficult for me to articulate these ideas into concrete leads and stories. I hope to use my strengths to build on my weaknesses and become the best journalist I can be.

Blogging is becoming such an important tool in journalism, and I am excited to tap into the power of this tool. This is my second semester blogging for UNC as part of UNC's student perspective blogging corps. Yup - I'm selling the school. But you should still check it out!

Blogging on my own has been a lot of fun, but I am looking forward to starting this new blog and learning how to make it better. I want to learn how to create an interactive conversation with my readers. I'm confident that I will be able to come up with ideas to post regularly, but I am nervous about trying to make these posts relevant, fresh and interesting. As I expand my own "blog diet" and learn more tricks of the trade, I hope to become more confident in my own experience and in my blogging abilities.