I learned this week that I can do this thing called journalism. I mean, I knew I had a set of skills that I am still, and always will be, working to progress and improve, but I really impressed myself this week— and not in a cocky way. I showed myself that if I put my heart, head, and soul fully into a project, I can achieve more than I think I can. Having someone believe in you can make the biggest difference in the world.
Spending a week surrounded by such supportive, talented, and passionate individuals really helped me believe in myself. What’s also cool is that this week’s newsroom was mainly made up of chicks — but shout out to Doug and Avishay!
Two takeaways from the past few weeks included not freaking out and believing in the process. The morning the application was due, I was still unsure of who or what my subject and source would be, but I just knew I would figure it out — and in a good, intentional way.
The morning the pitch was due, I went to my regular coffee shop, at the Laurel Canyon Country Store on, you guessed it, Laurel Canyon Blvd. It is a space filled with beings that are near and dear to my heart. I absolutely love this place. Upon ordering my usual iced vanilla latte with oat milk, I saw a wasp land in front of the cash register. As I was admiring my new little friend, I began taking photos and was just in awe of this little creature’s beauty. And that is ultimately what sparked my project idea for NPR’s NextGen Radio.
In hindsight, I wish I had been better prepared for taking photos on a bright rooftop. I also wish I had given myself a bit more time to produce those photos because I notice that my best photos happen when I’m not in a rush or trying to force an image that just isn’t it. My best photos emerge when I completely surrender to the process and allow myself the time to give each frame the intention it deserves.