My Time at UNC

Graduation is less than four weeks away — and I can't help but remember how a little less than four years ago, I was the typical wide-eyed freshman at the University of Northern Colorado.

It's cliche, yes, but I'm still shocked at how it feels like I was just standing in the parking lot of Wasson High School in Colorado Springs, talking with my best friend and wondering which college I would attend in the fall of 2005.

There were two final choices, after all: the University of Colorado in Boulder and UNC.

August of that year, however, I ended up moving into Harrison Hall at UNC — and beginning a journey that now leaves me looking at graduating with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

So, besides a new appreciation for sleep amid one final end-of-semester sprint, what have I learned?

First, there's the basics of the journalism profession. I've learned to assess the newsworthiness of events; how to write a story; how to conduct an interview; and the historical significance of the journalism profession.

Then — and perhaps most importantly — is the lesson I've learned of the value of hard work and sacrifice.

My first two years I spent floating through classes — making sure I get good grades but not doing much to prepare myself for graduation outside of class. Then I began my junior year of college, and it all changed. 

I started working for the student newspaper, the Mirror. I started writing for a web site covering high school football. And in October 2007, with the blessing of the student newspaper editor, I started working at the Greeley Tribune as a part-time night news reporter.

That, it seems, is when I learned a third lesson — one that was among the hardest to learn: how to handle stress. 

They don't teach you that in class — and they can't, to be honest. It would be nice (after all, would probably not be worried about losing my hair and going bald if such were the case) but this only comes with experience — as is the case with so much of the journalism industry.

In fact, I cannot stress this enough: the experience I gained at the Tribune has been vital. Quite frankly, though, that is how the journalism profession works. Real life experience is key, plain and simple.

That is why I leave with the utmost appreciation for having the chance to work at this newspaper. 

As far as the journalism program goes, I have learned a great deal from this program — and I am eternally grateful for this. I would not be anywhere near as prepared for graduation as I am now if not for the hard work of the professors in this program.

I also leave, though, hoping that those in the journalism department do more to help put its students in more real-life situations.

In my time at the Tribune, we have had two UNC students intern in the news department of the newspaper. That is out of about a dozen that the Tribune has hosted in the year-and-a-half that I've been there.

Granted, I know there are many factors at play in such matters. And I also know that much is up to the student to take the initiative in their own future.

At the same time, though, I truly feel like more can — and needs — to be done to get UNC students interning at this paper. The experience they would gain is priceless.

In the end, I've had a great time at UNC. I am eternally grateful for my time here, and I'll never forget the experience — nor would I want to. Many of the professors have helped me tremendously and I can not thank then enough. In fact, I'll probably keep bugging them long after graduation.

I just can't believe it's almost over.