After a speedrun of a week, I am coming away with a lesson in confidence. While putting together the different moving pieces of this digital piece, I learned a lot about the difference confidence can make during the journalism process. When I was confident in myself and my decisions, work felt light. I got it done and was proud of the result. When I wasn’t confident, I got into my head and slowed down. And with deadlines, there’s no time for second guessing.
I know I already have a lot of the skills that make a good journalist: I’m a good listener, I ask questions that get to the heart of the issue and I love fitting together the puzzle pieces that make a good story. Nevertheless, I have a lot to learn, but that’s the reason why I love this job. It pushes me to stretch and grow, and that is exactly what I want my work to do for other people.
So as I leave this week, I am excited to take what I’ve learned with me as I continue my journey. I’m proud of the work I have created and I can’t wait to see what comes next. I am thankful to Danita for sharing her story and letting me tell it. I feel extremely grateful I had this opportunity and lucky I had such a wonderful group of mentors guiding me along the way.