I went to talk to the NPR's journalism class today and it went very well.
I've had been in some pretty intimidating circumstances before but greeting a room full of unimpressed looking ninth graders really takes the cake.
The teacher had invited me to speak with the class some time ago when we met during a parent/teacher conference to discuss the NPR's progress.
I brought a few clips with me from the journalism heyday, including the article I did for the New York Times. When I pulled out my copy of the story I saw one student whisper the word "awesome" to the guy sitting next to him.
I knew from the NPR that there were some tough cookies in the room and she warned me that some of them might zone out or fall asleep.
I started off telling her class about the wide ways in which journalism and communications skills could come in handy in their future, whether or not they decided to pursue the profession. I explained how powerful the job can be when it comes to bringing about change and solving problems. I told them how each story was something new and never the same old thing twice. I told them how some stories are funny, some are sad and some are just plain weird.
I spoke about the times I had gotten to speed around a NASCAR racetrack, interview Buzz Aldrin and have a country music legend cook me steak.
I said there might be times when they interviewed people they didn't like and that they might be tempted to write that that person was "a giant douchebag" but they should refrain from doing so. They laughed.
The more I spoke, the more they laughed and gave me the eye contact that told me they were listening.
When I spoke about living and working in Mexico a few of the students asked questions about my time there and others seemed interested in my experiences.
They had some good questions too. One guy wanted to know how to become a published photographer and another girl asked how gossip magazines managed to avoid getting sued for some of the things they print.
I had a great experience and I managed not to embarrass the NPR too much. Even better, the teacher invited me back to speak to her other journalism class tomorrow.
I'm happy to do so.
I've had been in some pretty intimidating circumstances before but greeting a room full of unimpressed looking ninth graders really takes the cake.
The teacher had invited me to speak with the class some time ago when we met during a parent/teacher conference to discuss the NPR's progress.
I brought a few clips with me from the journalism heyday, including the article I did for the New York Times. When I pulled out my copy of the story I saw one student whisper the word "awesome" to the guy sitting next to him.
I knew from the NPR that there were some tough cookies in the room and she warned me that some of them might zone out or fall asleep.
I started off telling her class about the wide ways in which journalism and communications skills could come in handy in their future, whether or not they decided to pursue the profession. I explained how powerful the job can be when it comes to bringing about change and solving problems. I told them how each story was something new and never the same old thing twice. I told them how some stories are funny, some are sad and some are just plain weird.
I spoke about the times I had gotten to speed around a NASCAR racetrack, interview Buzz Aldrin and have a country music legend cook me steak.
I said there might be times when they interviewed people they didn't like and that they might be tempted to write that that person was "a giant douchebag" but they should refrain from doing so. They laughed.
The more I spoke, the more they laughed and gave me the eye contact that told me they were listening.
When I spoke about living and working in Mexico a few of the students asked questions about my time there and others seemed interested in my experiences.
They had some good questions too. One guy wanted to know how to become a published photographer and another girl asked how gossip magazines managed to avoid getting sued for some of the things they print.
I had a great experience and I managed not to embarrass the NPR too much. Even better, the teacher invited me back to speak to her other journalism class tomorrow.
I'm happy to do so.
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