Most of my summers as a student at the University of Utah consisted of heading back to my hometown on the west side of Michigan, working landscaping for a local company and a lot of contemplation. As I entered my junior year as a business student, the prospect of graduating and getting a job in less than two years was daunting for many reasons, specifically because I knew that I did not want to work in business for the rest of my life.
As I worked in humid conditions, listening to sports podcasts helped pass the time and kept me updated on my favorite teams, specifically the Utah Utes. One podcast in particular kept me informed on Utah, and the host had the energy to keep me engaged — it was called “Locked On Utes.” I continued to listen day after day and became increasingly interested in the idea of pursuing a career in sports journalism. Instead of sitting around waiting for something to happen, I decided to reach out to the “Locked On Utes” host, JT Wistricill, in hopes of finding a way to at least try my hand at writing. As most people could infer, JT referred me to The Daily Utah Chronicle. Little did I know that day would mark the beginning of my journey.
At the start, my writing skills were extremely raw, but as I gained experience covering men’s golf and lacrosse in my first year, I became more comfortable with my skills and saw progression in every piece I wrote. The next year, I took over the men’s basketball beat and started co-hosting the Chronicle sports podcast, “The Home Stretch.” As my resume grew, so did my confidence. With every piece of content I created, the more valuable I became, and my career in sports media started to become a reality.
As I continued to write for the Chronicle, I decided to add a journalism major on top of my business degree so that I had the option of pursuing sports media after school instead of limiting myself to a career in business. With a job writing for the Chronicle sports desk and a plethora of different communications classes, my drive to create a path toward sports journalism grew and the work I was doing reflected that.
Reaping the benefits of stepping out of my comfort zone and reaching out to someone that I admired in the sports media industry paid dividends in my writing career, but as I perfected my narrative storytelling abilities, I began to explore other areas of sports that I found interesting. With the opportunities to write and podcast through the Chronicle, my value only continued to grow, and it wasn’t just my peers that were taking notice.
After two years of writing and heading into my fifth year as a double major, the prospect of working another summer in landscaping was less than ideal. Instead of taking the complacent route and doing what took less effort, I concluded that the work I had put in for the Chronicle over the last two years was enough to score an internship in sports media for a revered publication. After months of applying to multiple different positions, I was able to secure an internship in the sports production department for Fox 2 in Detroit. Growing up in Michigan and having been a loyal fan of all of the major four Detroit sports teams, this was the perfect opportunity to learn from some of the best reporters not only in the state but the entire country.
Going from a landscaper who had little to no idea what my future looked like to an intern inside a media outlet with hundreds of thousands of viewers was surreal, and would have never happened if I had not taken a risk and reached out to JT two years prior. I have since finished up my internship, and this past year I have had the pleasure of being the assistant sports desk editor for the Chronicle. Again, I would not have had this opportunity if I chose to let life come to me compared to going out and making something happen for myself.
As I finish up my double major and look ahead to my future, the fear that used to consume me has started to look like an opportunity rather than an obstacle. I owe many of the skills I have gained to the Chronicle and encourage any students who are unsure of their path to put themselves in uncomfortable situations to truly find where they belong.
