I graduated from Tioga Central High School in 2016 and almost immediately, SUNY Plattsburgh and the North Country became my home. Every between-semester break I would desire to head back north. But college isn’t cheap, so when I am home I try to make a buck. This summer I had an opportunity to gather practical experience toward my future career as a journalist.
By coming home and writing for The Owego Pennysaver Press, I was able to look at my hometown in a new way and appreciate where I came from through the events I’ve attended, and the people I’ve talked with.
A few opportunities stand out as some favorites for me. My first week I was able to contribute to Stray Haven’s shelter mission by spreading the word about their work. I attended a town meeting where actual decisions affecting the town were being made. A few weeks later I was able to photograph and cover a concert for the first time.
And the people I’ve interacted along the way were inspiring too: a group of re-enactors who perform as if it’s 1902, high school students who give up a week of their summer for a mission trip, business owners who want to give back to their community, and two brothers who trekked the entire length of the Susquehanna River.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I was given this summer. I never thought it would feel so rewarding to cover my hometown.
Up at SUNY Plattsburgh, while sitting in a journalism classroom discussing current events, we can sometimes forget about the small-town happenings. Through my work this summer, I’ve learned that a micro scale can lead to more fulfillment than a macro scale.
I am about to start my senior year in Magazine Journalism and as a Public Relations major at SUNY Plattsburgh. In the future, I hope to write for a regional publication, telling the stories of its people, places and history – just as I was able to do in Tioga County.
Be the first to comment on "In my own words"