In August I arrived to NYC full of energy and anxiety. Energy towards school beginning, but mainly full of energy because I was finally living in the city I always wanted to.
I haven’t lost that energy and wonder for the city, but I have became tired and at times catatonic from school and the city. The city can beat you down, but I believe that I wouldn’t be the journalist I am today without expanding my reporting skills here.
Columbia Journalism School has allowed me to grow in ways I couldn’t even fathom. I have been able to explore the sub-fringe cultures of the city. From sex clubs, Burning Man parties, raves, warehouse parties, flower essence therapy, LGBT issues and social media censorship amongst indie artists. I have learned that I am able to immerse myself in abnormal life situations.
Being a graduate student has allowed me to be in charge of what I want to do reporting wise, an option I had never had during my time as an undergraduate student. I was able to pick and choose between a plethora of writing courses, which have allowed me to articulate my thoughts about the creative side of reporting. Columbia has taught me that arts reporting is just as important to readers than breaking news. It seems obvious that all news is important, but in a time where our country is not in synergy, obvious answers can get bogged down.
This program also has pushed me to my breaking point and beyond. I have grown beyond the classroom, but also see how I have been able to push past my anxieties when stories need to be written. This year has been tough, because I have also been dealing with a family members addiction over 1,000 miles away. With this added on stress, instead of being ashamed of a problem that is out of my control. I have had to learn how to be honest to professors and classmates when that stress was interfering with my work. I’m thankful for the faculty and staff being understanding when it was best for me to take a day to decompress. J-school isn’t for the faint of heart, because I also had to re-start my thesis in the middle of the school year. This taught me that under pressure, I can turn that pressure into fuel and excel beyond what is expected. Instead of one long-form narrative piece I have two!
Finally, j-school has taught me what personal skills I have to connect with my sources on a deeper level. As a natural introvert, I understand that it is hard to open up to people, especially strangers. Knowing this, I often allow myself to become vulnerable with sources as well. I enjoy breaking the barrier and finding points of similarity, because it allows my source to know that I understand that the emotions tied to their story are valid. As a young woman who has experienced abusive relationships, physical assault and grew up with a parent who was an addict, I understand many dark sides of life.
I’m excited to graduate in May, because I am excited to harness these skills into stories that can be shared with the public. My goal is to reach those who also wonder about sub-fringe cultures of America. My stories are aimed to help society understand what is deemed abnormal. I will be sharing more of my Columbia work after the Career Fair, so stay tuned!
Chandler Kidd 