I've survived my week at the Freedom Forum here in Nashville, Tenn. -- literally. I can't remember the last time I've been so sick. Having spent so much time in my hotel bed, with little to do, I found my thoughts running away: "Am I really doing this? Can I be so lucky? What if this isn't it for me? What if it is?"
In a few hours I'll be on a plane back to the Lone Star State, where I'll spend a little more than 24 hours preparing to move to Oregon. I'm leaving Chips Quinn orientation in Nashville with some new knowledge but mainly some extra earnestness, drive, excitement and respect for building a relationship with a new community through my work.
This week with the Chips Quinn program has made the 2,600-mile drive and everything else required of me like some sort of duty that I'm ready to report for.
Showing posts with label Anthony Williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anthony Williams. Show all posts
Monday, February 2, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
On Top of Old...Twitter
Sometimes it can be suffocating to be a part of today's ever-evolving information age, but feeling like you're on top of things gives you an ego boost that's hard to describe.
I have yet to Twitter, but listening to Ellyn Angelotti of The Poynter Institute describe what makes the fairly new social networking site awesome, I knew I'd be on the site soon enough.
Many of the Twitter functions she talked about were basically things I'd use Facebook for when reporting. I've "followed" individuals by befriending them online and reading their updated statuses, notes and posted items. Same with groups, where I could know every event a student club was hosting.
I have yet to Twitter, but listening to Ellyn Angelotti of The Poynter Institute describe what makes the fairly new social networking site awesome, I knew I'd be on the site soon enough.
Many of the Twitter functions she talked about were basically things I'd use Facebook for when reporting. I've "followed" individuals by befriending them online and reading their updated statuses, notes and posted items. Same with groups, where I could know every event a student club was hosting.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Holding presidents accountable
Members of the press gave former President George W. Bush what many would call "a hard time," but he had a lot to handle.
With all his issues he faded away from the press, hardly ever giving press conferences, and I couldn't think of another U.S. president who might have had more difficulties in dealing with the media other than Lyndon B. Johnson.
We were asked which president was the first to not seek another term due to bad press. I was surprised to learn it was George Washington.
He's dubbed the "Father of our Country," for goodness’ sake, and although I knew that the claim attributed to him that he never told a lie was, in fact, a lie, I never knew of his conflicts with the journalists of his day.
That made me think that if reporters do their job right, they'll get even the most respected and respectful leaders in a tizzy. Maybe I'll be pissing off President Obama soon enough.
With all his issues he faded away from the press, hardly ever giving press conferences, and I couldn't think of another U.S. president who might have had more difficulties in dealing with the media other than Lyndon B. Johnson.
We were asked which president was the first to not seek another term due to bad press. I was surprised to learn it was George Washington.
He's dubbed the "Father of our Country," for goodness’ sake, and although I knew that the claim attributed to him that he never told a lie was, in fact, a lie, I never knew of his conflicts with the journalists of his day.
That made me think that if reporters do their job right, they'll get even the most respected and respectful leaders in a tizzy. Maybe I'll be pissing off President Obama soon enough.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Facing the unknown
I don't know exactly what I expected from this week in Nashville with the Freedom Forum, but my soul could feel something big as I was leaving my apartment.
Yes, my sinuses were acting up and I'm in the middle of moving, but during the ride to the airport I began to feel this sort of fear. Or maybe it was just a feeling of the future about to crash down on my head.
Now that I'm here and settling in at orientation, I expect to get more out of being a Scholar than I could have ever imagined. I hope to learn how to take good photos from a photojournalistic standpoint and fine-tune my video skills. And hopefully I’ll gain a bit more confidence to push aside the unease of the impending unknown.
Yes, my sinuses were acting up and I'm in the middle of moving, but during the ride to the airport I began to feel this sort of fear. Or maybe it was just a feeling of the future about to crash down on my head.
Now that I'm here and settling in at orientation, I expect to get more out of being a Scholar than I could have ever imagined. I hope to learn how to take good photos from a photojournalistic standpoint and fine-tune my video skills. And hopefully I’ll gain a bit more confidence to push aside the unease of the impending unknown.
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