She dreamt she could, so she did.

By: Ashlyn DeLoughy

One thing this trip has really taught me so far is the demands of this career, which obviously I knew about, but you don’t quite understand it until you 1) experience it and 2) talk to professionals in the field. I am quite literally starstruck by the amounts of staffers, reporters and executives of the major networks, who are not only staying in our hotel, but are also taking to the time to speak with us about their experiences in the field. However, while I’m in awe, all of these conversations and successful figures have made me question so much about my passion for journalism. Now, it’s not a question of if it’s there. It’s a question of do I have what it takes. 

Today, we had the amazing opportunity to meet Morgan Radford (yes I just said Morgan Radford). For those that don’t know, Radford is an NBC News correspondent. To make a long story short, Radford didn’t have the easiest journey into her journalism career. Instead, for her it was rejection after rejection after rejection, but nonetheless she persisted. Radford began teaching herself everything she could before finally getting accepted into grad school. And I guess what it comes down to is even at the lowest of lows you have to gracefully persevere. 

I experience insecurities in both of my majors: dance and journalism. However, I didn’t realize until today how similar those insecurities are. I didn’t realize until today how similar the two worlds truly are. Both are competitive and intense. Both have you traveling all over the country from hotel to hotel, catching 3:00 a.m. flights and make it very difficult to have a personal life. Most importantly, both potential careers have this pressure to “make it” in the industry.

I say this because it all comes down to who I am as a person. Me, the motivated and curious, journalist/dancer is passionate about the world and all the people in my life. I care about both careers because at the end of the day I get to do something no other job does: I get to bring new perspective into people’s lives and inspire them to do something that outlives them. I get to encourage people to be both vulnerable and honest, because when people are vulnerable you have a better story. “That’s good T.V.” as Radford would say. 

And the best part? You learn the most about yourself within the process. 

I guess what I’m trying to say is that Radford reminded me that amongst all of the intensity and pressures that come with being a journalist, it’s exactly what I want to do. It’s the person who I am. I don’t know what the rest of my college years will bring me, but I do know that I want to be able to tell some of the greatest stories in the world, I want to be able to tell the stories that move the public and serve the common good. 

So at the end of the day, the answer is yes. I absolutely do have what it takes to be in this field. I just need to believe in that and run with it. It’s about to be a bumpy ride, but that never stopped Morgan Radford now did it? 

I didn’t think so.