Preparing for a Career in Media

My self-designed honors experience, From Student to Sports Journalist: Preparing for a Career in Media, became one of the most meaningful professional development opportunities of my college journey. I began this experience with the intention of building my network, engaging with professionals in the media industry, strengthening my leadership and communication skills, and preparing myself for internship and career opportunities in sports journalism. Throughout the experience, I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone by connecting with journalists, refining my portfolio, creating multimedia content, and learning how to present myself professionally in media spaces. By the end of the experience, I successfully achieved one of my biggest goals: securing a summer internship with Doe-Anderson. That accomplishment showed me that the work, preparation, and intentionality I invested into this experience truly paid off.

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One of the most impactful parts of this journey was learning how important networking and relationship-building are within the media industry. Through mentorship conversations, professional interactions, and shadowing opportunities, I gained insight into the realities of sports journalism beyond the classroom. I learned that success in media is not only about talent, but also about confidence, consistency, adaptability, and the ability to build genuine connections with people. These experiences helped me grow more comfortable communicating professionally, asking thoughtful questions, and advocating for myself in spaces that once felt intimidating.

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As I worked toward my goals, I also saw growth in my storytelling abilities and digital media skills. I spent time developing sports-related content, improving my interviewing style, and strengthening my portfolio through writing and multimedia projects. This experience allowed me to think more critically about how sports stories are told and whose voices are highlighted. As a young Black woman pursuing a career in media, I became even more aware of the importance of representation and authentic storytelling within journalism and advertising spaces. I learned how impactful storytelling can shape culture, connect communities, and create opportunities for voices that are often overlooked.

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This experience also expanded my understanding of what it means to be a Global Citizen Scholar. To me, being a Global Citizen Scholar means using your education, experiences, and platform to connect with others, remain culturally aware, and create meaningful impact within your community and future profession. Through this experience, I strengthened skills in communication, leadership, creativity, and adaptability while learning how to navigate professional environments with confidence and purpose. I also realized that growth often happens through discomfort, preparation, and taking initiative.

Looking ahead, I plan to carry the lessons from this experience into my future career in media, journalism, and advertising. My internship with Doe-Anderson is an exciting next step that will allow me to continue building on the foundation I created through this honors experience. I hope to continue telling impactful stories, creating meaningful content, and using media as a way to connect with diverse audiences. Most importantly, this experience reminded me that opportunities become possible when preparation meets confidence, and that investing in yourself and your goals can open doors you once only imagined.