The start of the rest of my life, I thought, was when I decided what college to go to. I had a good idea of what I wanted to do with my life but just needed the perfect place to truly find out. I chose Michigan State because it offered me everything that thought I wanted at the time. I could get involved with covering sports right away, they had a beautiful new newsroom, and a great journalism program. The sports teams were well known, I could cover a D1 Hockey team, and Michigan has always been a place I called home, after spending the summers here with my family. I found so much more than just that though. I found friendships, relationships, lessons, skills, ideas beyond the standard. I found myself.
As graduation nears the thought of moving on, which was once terrifying, has become easier and easier. I have listened to many people in places that I dream to be one day. Leaders, on camera personalities, sports reporters, teachers, and a common theme that they have all shared is that life is about pivoting. It’s not about your first job and where you start, it’s about continuing the journey to find yourself, and with time, your career will align with that.
My journey started off as someone who loved sports and being on camera, I always wanted to be an actress and a model growing up but didn’t want to give up my love for the sport I played my whole life. A sport that brought equally as many friendships and relationships into my life as my college experience has. I’ve found though, that the world is much deeper than what lays on the surface to an 18-year-old.
I’ve found that behind the shiny world of sports, lies people, people who have been manipulated, hurt, taken advantage of, people whose passion for the game has been destroy through injury or the wrong coach. There are stories to tell far beyond the game highlights, stories that might not be pretty, but that mean so much more to the world than they will ever know.
Throughout the semester I have realized that what I’ve been connected to isn’t the location I’m in, or the specific classes I’m taking, but the people I’m meeting and the relationships, lessons, and emotions that follow the work.
I got the chance to ask a few questions to someone who I truly admire, Katie Austin. It has always been a dream of mine to be a Sports Illustrated Model. Not for the stereotypical “sexy pictures” but for the empowerment and platform of women that it connects you to. Katies advice said similar to what I’ve learned in my four years here at Michigan State. That the people who surround you and support you will be the greatest motivation to keep going. That truly finding a great network of friends who care will lead you to continue to do what you love.
She talked about networking being the most important thing in the world, connection to people who can help support and inspire you being one the most powerful gifts. Taking that inspiration and knowledge and sharing it with the next in line is a gift that continues to give for generations.
I asked her about the impact she hopes to have when she shares her content, to that, she said that Vulnerability is the key to it all. She discussed that through her platform she wants to create a comfortable place where people can see that she is a real person too, who is trying to make other women feel like their most confident and healthy selves.
She gave plenty of other incredible advice, but I think at this point in my life, one of the most impactful things she mentioned was about moving forward. Out of college she knew what she was passionate about but didn’t know exactly where that would take her. She advised that the ability to adapt and change with the ever-moving world of technology is what has allowed her to remain relevant. It is what has given her so much flexibility, which she didn’t find in her sports reporting career, to share the content that she feels truly matters.
The stories I’ve read in Dare to Lead and Leaders Eat Last solidified the importance of support and balance in both home and work environments. They discussed the idea that when we, as humans, feel connected and supported we are more willing to take risks that can aid growth in our work. Risks that in this changing world are needed to remain progressive.
Susan Goldberg, now editor of National Geographic, shared with me some advice about the reward that comes from pushing the conversation. She said that to be relevant, you must be talked about and you must be inclusive. When National Geographic began to change for the modern-day audience, they had to take the risk to change the script. Instead of telling stories about beautiful landscapes or the history of natives, they talked about environmental preservation and topics of race and gender inclusion.
After National Geographic printed a cover with a Transgender woman 10,000 people cancelled their subscription she said. Their audience was no longer those people though, she said the more important part was about doing the right thing and opening up the conversation to those who were not already a part of it. She knew that in order to move forward into the digital and new age, authenticity of the world had to be shown.
A major lesson that both of these successful women in media spoke to me about, but that I didn’t see as much in the books, was about the ability to adapt and change with the new digital world. The incredible impact that one person can have just by starting up a few social media accounts is incredible. Katie talked about the versatility it allows her to have in life and Susan discussed the abundance of different kinds of stories that could be told off of just one lead. Adapting a story and being able to take different angles on it, order to connect with the widest range of audiences possible, is how you can grow to be a brand as large as National Geographic. On a personal scale, the development of a brand like Katie Austin, has all been possible because of her diverse range of media. Transforming information and stories from podcasts, to Instagram posts, to print, and video gives reach.
Reflecting on all of the advice and concepts from the books, has allowed me to realize that values, connection, curiosity, passion, vulnerability and some hard work can take me to the next step of my career. This certainly is not the start, just as choosing the right college was not the start, but just a continuation on this incredible journey of something called life.
Comments