Not only has my time at West Virginia University come to an end, but so has my journey with WVU News.
Before reflecting on my overall experience, I want to begin by discussing our final broadcast, Show 5. As expected, it was by far our smoothest and easiest show, with the fewest challenges both for me personally and for the team as a whole. Every reporter delivered an excellent package, and it was incredible to see how much everyone had improved throughout the semester. That growth is a true testament to the impact this capstone course has had on all of us.
Once again, I had the opportunity to produce from the C-tease through the end of the show. Looking back to the beginning of the semester, I knew very little about producing a news broadcast and lacked confidence in my abilities. This class has truly shaped me as both a producer and a leader.
At the start, writing even a small portion of the script took me a significant amount of time, and my writing skills were far less developed. Now, I can write much more efficiently, and the quality of my work has improved tremendously.
Most importantly, I have come to understand that writing for anchors and for the audience is essential. There were many instances early on when something I wrote made perfect sense to me, but after receiving feedback from my professors, I realized it could be confusing to viewers. Overall, I am incredibly proud of how much my writing has grown over the past several months.
In addition to producing, I directed almost every show this semester, which has honestly been my favorite part of the class. While I believe I have become quite skilled at directing, I certainly did not start out that way.
In the beginning, I was reserved and hesitant, afraid of making mistakes and unsure of my abilities. Directing requires constant attention to many moving parts — the anchors, cameras, graphics, control room and countdowns — and that can feel overwhelming for a new director. Over time, however, it became second nature. I am far more confident now, not only in my broadcasting abilities but also in myself.
This class was not easy. There were moments when I felt frustrated, overwhelmed, and even tempted to give up. However, those challenges ultimately made me a better person, leader, producer, and classmate.
If someone had told me in January that I would soon be moving 10 hours away to begin my career at ESPN immediately after graduation, I would not have believed them. It is because of this class that I had the confidence to pursue my dream job, and I am incredibly grateful that I did.
If there is one lesson I will carry with me from Professor Dahlia, it is this: you do not get what you do not ask for. That is a lesson I will remember throughout the rest of my career and life. To my classmates, my professors, and everyone who has supported me over the past four years, thank you.
And finally, thank you, WVU News.