Thinking back on my second week with the USC AYA program I could only think of the incredible lessons I have learned from not only Professor López and Professor Turner but all my amazing peers who I’ve gotten to know so much better this past week. I know I mentioned before that interacting with everyone was slightly difficult at first but now, it feels like I’ve created so many bonds with the amazing students here and I learn something new from them everyday. They have helped me so much especially when it has come to our final project for journalism! When we first started that project I was very confused on what the terms lede and nut graf meant. I felt a little unprepared, which caused me to freak out a bit, but I’m glad my friends were able to guide me through it and explain these new terms to me.
Speaking about the Journalism project, I have spent a great amount of time trying to perfect it and make sure all my details are in check which made me lose sight of what this project really meant. From the constant emailing for potential interviews and the non-stop research on my topic, I have basically driven myself insane. I forget I’m allowed to experiment and try new media to find a way to tell this story I’m creating. I think going into this program I felt the pressure to be someone who has to have a traditional perfect story or article. I’ll admit taking risks has never come easy to me, but In these two weeks I’ve learned how to tell stories in many different ways. It doesn’t always have to be in writing or in a video, and I think this is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned being a part of AYA.
Having so many amazing guest speakers come in and talk to us about their careers and the paths they went on to end up where they are now has definitely got me thinking about what I want to do with my future. I hear adults say all the time that I have my entire life ahead of me to choose what I want to pursue, but it doesn’t really feel like that. It feels like time is slowly moving faster and faster and soon enough I’ll be picking what major to apply to. That’s why when the Annenberg admissions director Bryant Gomez presented to us I started to view my future in a different way. Coming from a first generation family, I don’t know much about what goes into these applications or how to start preparing for them. After this presentation and the school searching activities I not only learned more about the different institutions in California but also what I would want to pursue at these specific institutions.
We are halfway through this program and I’m sad that shortly it’ll come to an end but I know I will end this program with a better understanding of what it takes to be a journalist and who I want to be.
Communicating Change 