I’m a Poynter College Fellow!

Is this real? Was I really selected as one of 30 college students across the country to participate in one of the world’s most prestigious journalism fellowships?

Yes, I was, and I am ecstatic.

I applied for the Poynter College Fellowship a few months ago after my friend and colleague Tina Phan went last year and came back with the most amazing stories about what she learned and who she met. She spent two weeks with 39 other bright college journalists from renowned universities across the country. Tina was also the first person from Texas State to be accepted into the program.

Knowing how talented Tina is, and looking at the universities and experience other fellows had, I honestly thought getting into this program was a long shot. But thanks to Tina’s encouragement and a recommendation from my professor, Kym Fox, I was notified yesterday of my acceptance to one of Poynter’s longest-running seminars.

Beginning three days after I graduate (and ending five days before I move to New York), I will spend 10 days near the beach in St. Petersburg, Florida, learning about multimedia, reporting, the evolution of journalism and more from some of the most successful professionals in the business.

I truly can’t express how excited I am about this opportunity. I’m thrilled, knowing I get to learn so much from professionals and peers who are as passionate about journalism as I am. I also see it as one of the best opportunities to network, especially before I take off for the biggest media-centered city in the country. I’m already in contact with former Poynter College Fellows from universities in New York, such as Columbia, through Tina, and I’m sure I’ll have more opportunities to meet similar people who may also be in my future place of residence. I think this fellowship will also aid me in graduate school applications I will be putting together less than a year from now.

Just when I think my post-graduate plans couldn’t get any better, something like this happens. It just goes to show that hard work will not only get you a job in your ideal city; It will also get you once-in-a-lifetime opportunities you never imagined were possible. I’m anxiously anticipating this fellowship, and I can hardly wait to hone new journalism skills.