When I got to college, I expected bullying to be a thing of the past. The last thing I expected was to be bullied by a professor.  

OK … bullying might be a strong word. But I was heavily pressured by a professor to join The Scribe, and I couldn’t be more grateful. 

Journalism was never something I considered pursuing, but as a film major in the Communication Department, I was required to take Writing for the Media, the only journalism class offered at UCCS.  

After turning in my first assignment, my professor, Laura Austin-Eurich, who is also the faculty advisor for The Scribe, recommended I apply for the newspaper and told me she would put in a good word for me. 

I’m a notoriously busy person. At the time, I had another job, a couple of regular side gigs and a heavy course load. I wasn’t exactly looking to join an organization on campus, let alone get another job. 

But Laura did not give up. Any chance she got to catch me one-on-one, she would ask me, “When are you putting in your application?” 

At the end of that semester, by some miracle of fate, Laura and I ended up in the same elevator. I was cornered. I had nowhere to go. She once again asked me to apply, and whether it was out of fear or a desire to appease this person I had come to highly respect, I said I would apply that day. And I did. 

That was two years ago, and while I poke fun at her regularly, I am so grateful that Laura trapped me in the elevator that day. Working at The Scribe has been one of the best experiences of my life and has pushed me out of my comfort zone in every way imaginable. 

I started The Scribe as a fairly soft-spoken and reserved person. For my first assignment, I was offered a chance to interview Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet, and the thought of leading a conversation with the chancellor of the university was so terrifying to me that I turned down the opportunity. 

At the beginning of this semester, I finally interviewed the chancellor, and as I walked into that interview with zero fear, I reflected on that girl who would have been petrified just a year and a half earlier. 

Regardless of what I end up doing in the future, the skills I developed as a journalist and editor will serve me for the rest of my life. I feel confident in my ability to conduct interviews, talk to people I’ve never met before, meet deadlines, lead a team, edit my own and others’ writing, and give and receive feedback. I learned or strengthened all these skills during my time at The Scribe. 

Ultimately, my favorite skill I’ve strengthened from journalism is storytelling. I want to be a screenwriter, and while journalistic writing and screenwriting are not entirely the same, I am a better screenwriter because of my experience with journalism. I learned some of the best stories come from listening to people talk about things they are passionate about and watching the world around you. 

The things I will carry with me most from my time at The Scribe are the people I met along the way. Most of my closest friends are fellow journalists, and the camaraderie I’ve built from covering heavy topics with my peers, like a double homicide and the federal transition, is unmatched by any community I’ve been a part of.  

To my fellow Scribe journalists, thank you for the support, friendships and laughs. To Laura, I’m eternally grateful for you. Thank you for forcing me to make the best decision of my life. 

So, there you have it. I’ve become the person who corners people and pressures them to apply for the paper. Just do it already! I promise you won’t regret it. You will meet your best friends, overcome challenges, learn about the world and yourself, and leave a better person and a more capable worker, regardless of the industry you end up in. So, when are you putting in your application?