It’s hard to believe it was almost four years ago when I sat in my first class at the University of Utah. I used to roll my eyes when people would reel off all the painful cliches about how fast the time would go by. But I’m here, checking my ego, preaching the same sentiments that always made me groan.
As graduation changes from an abstract concept to a close reality, I feel like I’ve finally started to pause and think about how much work has gone into my time at the U. I’ve been so caught up anticipating my next deadline and all the work going into it, it feels like each semester ended as my own personal season of “Survivor.” My bittersweet reflection nearing the end has been a much-needed moment of pride.
I joined The Daily Utah Chronicle’s news desk late in my college career. It was just over a year ago, at the start of the spring semester of my junior year. I’ve known I wanted to be a journalist since elementary school. In my mind, there’s never been another career option for me. I love people and I love talking, so it felt like a natural fit.
But I didn’t realize how much work went into this industry until I started college. Of course, the human connection aspect that reeled me in initially is a huge part of it, but there’s so much more behind high-quality reporting. That was daunting to me for a long time. I knew I was capable of putting in that work, and I inevitably did in my introductory journalism classes. But every time I would finish a story, I had a hard time believing it was any good.
That self-doubt fueled my hesitation to join the Chrony. I didn’t think my abilities were where they needed to be to write alongside my talented peers. I read the great work they were putting out and I so badly wanted to be doing the same. It took three years before I stopped letting my lack of confidence hold me back. I finally bit the bullet and applied for the news desk. Much to my surprise, they took me in with open arms.
I didn’t realize it then, but as I reflect now I see my growth was almost immediate. I regularly had a story I was working on, so the pitching, researching, interviewing and writing that once felt so intimidating quickly became muscle memory. I finally felt myself tapping into a journalist’s sense of constant curiosity, which not only boosted my professional performance but also made me feel more connected to the world around me every day. Looking back, joining the Chrony was one of those pivotal moments where I actually stepped into my dream role of a journalist.
My tremendous gains at the time were just about invisible to me then. I have mixed feelings as I’m finally giving myself a pat on the back months later. I feel overwhelmed with fulfillment and pride, but I can’t help but think I sold myself short for ignoring all my hard work when I deserved acknowledgment most.
The importance of giving myself credit when I deserve it has been one of the hardest but most momentous lessons I’ve come to realize through my time in college. It’s not easy to see how much hard work you’re doing when it’s intertwined with your daily routine. But every single step forward is worthy of celebration. Even if it seems small and insignificant, all progress is progress at the end of the day. Getting through life isn’t easy, so you shouldn’t deprive yourself appreciation for the efforts you make.
The Chrony has become an unintentional scrapbook for so many of my milestones. The unknowing eye would see it as a log of stories I worked hard at. But for me, it serves a deeper purpose. I look at my reporting and think of everything I put into it behind the scenes. I juggled work, school, internships and my personal life while still finding time to work my reporter muscles. When I watch my writing improve with each story, I know it aligns with an increasing confidence in my abilities.
The thought of the future is intimidating, but my experiences at the U and the Chrony remind me there is always so much to look forward to. I am so grateful for my editors, fellow writers, friends, family and all the amazing individuals who have helped me grow over the past four years and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
