People ask me, “What does it mean for you to be a journalist?” Well, it is something that I am still figuring out.
Being young and having little experience, the concept of what a journalist really is still new to me. Although one thing I know for certain is that I enjoy telling other people’s stories.
Walking into The Prospector office for the first time last year was intimidating. Seeing older, more experienced journalists whittled my confidence. But it wasn’t until I felt welcomed by not only the students, but the advisors who were also part of The Prospector, that I found my sense of place.
There are several people that have helped shape me into the person I am today.
Firstly, without the support of my family, I wouldn’t have even thought of journalism as a possible career path I could pursue. Secondly, without the help of Crystal and Erik, I would have remained inside the shell that prevented me from being able to blossom.
Lastly, without the support from my friends, both those who are a part of The Prospector and those who are outside of the journalism world, my fickle ideas wouldn’t have seen the light of day.
Storytelling is one of the aspects I enjoy most about this job. The way a writer can poetically tell a reader what is going on is an element of journalism that I adore. But balancing both storytelling and relaying the facts is what makes the art of journalism so intriguing to me.
This summer, I finished my first internship with El Paso Matters, which was a priceless experience. Working with well-respected journalists here in the city helped me grow. It also helped me realize that the city enjoys the “nerdy”, investigative stories.
Becoming sports editor for this fall semester, I want to thank Emmanuel for entrusting me with this position. My goal for this semester is to produce stories that not only appeal to sports fans but make people outside of the sports realm care about them as well.
As I continue walking down the journalism path, I realize there is still much for me to learn. There is a long and winding road ahead of me, and all the trials and tribulations will hopefully shape me into a well-respected journalist.
At the end of the semester, I hope to look back with great pride of not only the great stories I was able to produce, but as well as the fellow writers I was able to help.
I am still trying to figure out what it means to be a journalist, but, with help from my mentors and friends, I hope to soon realize what it means to me.
Sofia Sierra is the sports editor and may be reached at [email protected].
