Photo Editor
It all started in high school when I first joined my Audio Visual class in my senior year. The teacher, “Money” Monahan, taught our class so much that it created a genuine interest to possibly pursue a career in communications when I graduated. Finding classes was hard since I was still unsure what I wanted to do. Luckily, I only had to switch my major once. I started as a speech major but quickly changed it to a communications major. It might seem surprising I didn’t choose communications as my first choice, but I did feel as though I still didn’t know if that would be the right fit. It took some growing into and it made me incredibly busy.
Everything changed on Involvement Fair day outside of Potter Hall and the library where tables spread around with clubs and information lining the sidewalks. When one of The DrumBeat advisers stuck out a microphone and asked me how I felt about anchoring or being an on-air talent for a broadcast. I had not previously known about this since I was at least a semester in. This moment brought me back to high school and to the only class, I mainly enjoyed. In short, this piqued my interest, and it was evident they were in great need. I wanted to help in any way I could, but it wouldn’t be until the next semester that I gave in as much as possible for how busy I was. I started as a multimedia journalist, and during this time, I was learning more about this organization through class since the professors are all advisers over it. Being a journalism and mass comm major gave me a way to get my feet wet and see what it was like to be a part of a news organization.
When more time opened up for my schedule, I gave more time to The DrumBeat for news packages, or fully developed and edited news stories that have been recorded, and pieces to be published in the paper around campus. I continued to do this for a few more semesters and grew as a journalist as I found my groove in the organization. I found myself taking pictures, and videos, as well as opening up my shell and talking with people I would have never imagined myself doing.
Eventually, this would lead me into the anchor chair as the host anchor. This position taught me responsibility and that staff connections are important to develop. Though this was only one semester, I learned so much. Over the course of the summer before, I had even taken a professional photography job as a result of someone reaching out to the organization looking for people willing and available to do product photography. Doing this also led me to know what I wanted to do with my life and after I graduate thanks to The DrumBeat. I have continually stuck with photography and so far, it has worked out even better than I could have imagined. I must say, one of the best skills I have gained so far has been the ability to communicate with people I have met on the way. It genuinely is one of the most overlooked qualities in a communication major. Joining The DrumBeat as soon as possible will benefit any student willing to learn.