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Career move well worth it
It’s hard to believe that the new year marks 10 years since I graduated high school. It feels like just yesterday when I was sitting in chemistry class trying to decipher the mathematical formulas my teacher was writing on the board while hitting on the girl sitting next to me.
Those were different times back then.
If I were to travel back to May 26, 2000 to meet up with myself at my high school graduation, I doubt I would believe where I would end up 10 years in the future.
I was one of those students who had it all figured out. I was going to be a history teacher and travel the world. Well, as you can see, that plan went in one door and out the other. By the time I was a sophomore in college, I had already “officially” declared a different major four times. I was the typical conflicted college student who did not know what he wanted out of life.
It wasn’t until late in my junior year of college when I decided to pick a major and stick with it. It’s a good thing I did too.
I’ve always enjoyed writing. And, depending on who you talk to, they will tell you I’ve always been good at it. My mom fondly recalls to friends and family the story of how, when I was a very young boy, I developed a love for paper to the point where I always had a stack of it clinched tightly between my little chubby fingers.
On one particular windy day, while crossing the street with my mom and sister, a big gust of wind blew by and ripped the papers from my hand scattering them in the street. As mom frantically tried to gather the papers and get her children safely across the busy street, all I could muster was: “My papers! My papers!”
Years later, I remember watching an old black and white movie at my grandparents house while visiting from Texas. It was called “Deadline USA” and starred Humphrey Bogart in a classic role that depicted true journalistic talent. The film follows Bogart’s character, Ed Hutcheson, a tough editor for the New York Day, who is stung into a full-fledged crusade against a gangster. I’m assuming that’s where my love affair with printed newspapers began.
During my junior year in high school, I got the chance to be a real life Ed Hutcheson. Unbeknownst to the student body, at the end of my sophomore year, our school’s athletic director and principal were involved in a highly unethical and illegal operation. In order to recruit a winning football team the previous year, the athletic director lured students to our school with gifts and free tuition, while the principal told all the teachers to give the athletes passing grades so they could graduate, regardless if the students earned the grade or not.
My journalism teacher, Ms. DeLong, informed our class that several teachers did not want to talk to the press, but would talk to the student newspaper. My colleagues and I hit the ground running and soon published the story on the front page of the student paper. In the end, the principal and athletic director were forced to resign, and some students were told to hand over their diplomas. Justice was served.
Because of one teacher, my interest in journalism continues to thrive. It is why I have enjoyed working in cities and towns to tell stories. That is what true journalism is about. It is not just about the good, and it is not just about the bad.
I never expected my career choice would lead me down the path of rural America.
Though I still aspire to make it to the New York Times someday, I have found joy in reporting on the lesser-known individuals who make up America’s heartland. From the farmers who toil in the fields day and night, to the police officers and firefighters who dedicate their lives to protect us, these are the people I’m interested in reporting on.
Every community and every individual has a story to tell. And each of these stories is a small part of a larger story that defines the community. The responsibility of the community journalist is to find and report on these stories.
As 2010 heads underway, I look forward to working with the people of Chelsea and Dexter as you let me into your lives and into your community to tell your story.
Those were different times back then.
If I were to travel back to May 26, 2000 to meet up with myself at my high school graduation, I doubt I would believe where I would end up 10 years in the future.
I was one of those students who had it all figured out. I was going to be a history teacher and travel the world. Well, as you can see, that plan went in one door and out the other. By the time I was a sophomore in college, I had already “officially” declared a different major four times. I was the typical conflicted college student who did not know what he wanted out of life.
It wasn’t until late in my junior year of college when I decided to pick a major and stick with it. It’s a good thing I did too.
I’ve always enjoyed writing. And, depending on who you talk to, they will tell you I’ve always been good at it. My mom fondly recalls to friends and family the story of how, when I was a very young boy, I developed a love for paper to the point where I always had a stack of it clinched tightly between my little chubby fingers.
On one particular windy day, while crossing the street with my mom and sister, a big gust of wind blew by and ripped the papers from my hand scattering them in the street. As mom frantically tried to gather the papers and get her children safely across the busy street, all I could muster was: “My papers! My papers!”
Years later, I remember watching an old black and white movie at my grandparents house while visiting from Texas. It was called “Deadline USA” and starred Humphrey Bogart in a classic role that depicted true journalistic talent. The film follows Bogart’s character, Ed Hutcheson, a tough editor for the New York Day, who is stung into a full-fledged crusade against a gangster. I’m assuming that’s where my love affair with printed newspapers began.
During my junior year in high school, I got the chance to be a real life Ed Hutcheson. Unbeknownst to the student body, at the end of my sophomore year, our school’s athletic director and principal were involved in a highly unethical and illegal operation. In order to recruit a winning football team the previous year, the athletic director lured students to our school with gifts and free tuition, while the principal told all the teachers to give the athletes passing grades so they could graduate, regardless if the students earned the grade or not.
My journalism teacher, Ms. DeLong, informed our class that several teachers did not want to talk to the press, but would talk to the student newspaper. My colleagues and I hit the ground running and soon published the story on the front page of the student paper. In the end, the principal and athletic director were forced to resign, and some students were told to hand over their diplomas. Justice was served.
Because of one teacher, my interest in journalism continues to thrive. It is why I have enjoyed working in cities and towns to tell stories. That is what true journalism is about. It is not just about the good, and it is not just about the bad.
I never expected my career choice would lead me down the path of rural America.
Though I still aspire to make it to the New York Times someday, I have found joy in reporting on the lesser-known individuals who make up America’s heartland. From the farmers who toil in the fields day and night, to the police officers and firefighters who dedicate their lives to protect us, these are the people I’m interested in reporting on.
Every community and every individual has a story to tell. And each of these stories is a small part of a larger story that defines the community. The responsibility of the community journalist is to find and report on these stories.
As 2010 heads underway, I look forward to working with the people of Chelsea and Dexter as you let me into your lives and into your community to tell your story.
posted by Daniel Lai at
1:03 PM
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