fall semester of journalism school reflection

The posts that I missed writing when I graduated college in May 2022 were the end of semester reflection posts. These posts gave me an avenue to look back on the semester, see the gems I had, celebrate the wins I experienced, and mourn the losses I had. So it’s been a pleasant surprise to find that I have two left to share with you (unless I decide to go to seminary). 

These are some lessons learned in my fall semester of grad school. But not just any grad school, journalism school!

J-School made me aggressive

We are starting off strong! I would never be someone that anyone would call aggressive, but after a semester of j-school, I really learned how to take charge and go after what I want. In order to hear from sources and get the information you need, you have to push past the fear of being annoying or rude and get what you need. And this doesn’t mean intentionally being rude, but being quicker to ask for what you want repeatedly. I also want to say that if someone doesn’t want to speak to me, that’s okay. But it’s going after the people who do want to speak to me and not stopping with the bare minimum response.

I got to KNOW NYC

I’ve been a born-and-raised New Yorker, which is not the norm if you live here. There are A MILLION places I’ve never been until I started this program. I learned about different neighborhoods in the North Bronx. I know the end of the 2 line. I have been on the 1, 2, 3, 7, A, B, C, D, G, N, R, and Q trains. Some of these trains I had never been on before this program. I’ve navigated the train system AND know how to hop on the bus to a totally new-to-me part of town. This city actually is huge. I’ve spent two hours traveling to get to a community board meeting, and it’s WILD to me that this is all considered one city. NYC is so huge and there’s so much to discover. I feel even more like a real New Yorker now.

Related Post: grad school day in my life

Dreams do change

In the second half of the semester, I started audio. After 7 weeks of doing it, despite my amazing, lovely professors, I don’t want to do audio. Audio reporting is way different than podcasting and that was a huge thing I learned. I love a good podcast, where you can sit down with a guest and chat away, but live radio stressed me out. Reporting in audio stresses me out. Unfortunately for me, my Master’s project is audio. I used to think I wanted to do audio. Now I just want a job that won’t stress me out and one I don’t have to take home come 5pm.

A homily can stay with you

A lovely, unexpected part of grad school was the Community at the Crossing, a group at the nearby cathedral. The group is ecumenical and they all live in the house next to the cathedral, where Madeleine L’Engle wrote A Wrinkle in Time. I first met Allie after 12:15 midday prayer. Then after showing up to the cathedral to briefly see the art exhibition that was displayed, I met Noah. He and I have such similar faith/life stories, and that conversation was a joy! And I’ve met other members since, which is awesome. But at 12:25, Mondays through Fridays, we show up at midday prayer. (I try to go once a week, but that got harder after October.) 

Two homilies I remember: We know so much yet we miss what is essential, what’s right in front of us. (If that doesn’t pierce your heart, I wonder what will?) On the feast of St. Francis, a different priest mentioned how saints illuminated different aspects of Jesus. So what aspect of Jesus is illuminated in your life? A question I’m still unable to answer.

You can learn a lot very quickly but you’re always moving on

What I found fun about journalism was all the random things I was learning about. I learned about housing in Riverdale in the Bronx. I got to know the parks department in NYC. There were community boards and CitiBikes and churches during COVID and how a small Episcopal church worked. Though I love acquiring knowledge quickly, I never got to settle into something. Every time I was just getting deeper, I had to move on to the next topic. I never felt like I got to enjoy a story I worked on or celebrated finishing an audio piece. The pace moved too quickly for my liking.

Related Post: a Journalist’s guide to life

The right friends can get you through a tough season

Without the right people, journalism school would’ve felt absolutely impossible. I was so darn lucky that one of my classmates decided to start a Bible Study that met weekly. We were able to talk about our struggles and cry and relate it back to scripture. These are the girls I texted, the girls who I did work with, the girls who joined me reporting. I can honestly say that without them, my mental health would’ve taken a turn for the worst. Shout out to Zee for all the reporting trips! Shout out to Kate for keeping me laughing everywhere we go!!

I’m glad grad school semester 1 is over! And the next I’m graduating! It has felt very slow at times, and most weeks get harder instead of easier, but I’m proud I’ve been able to accomplish so much!

More Highlights:

Signing off,

Gigi