Brief Biography: Let’s see… I was born in Dallas, and have lived there my whole life. I’m now a junior at MU and am studying journalism and political science. Working for the Missourian is actually my first formal experience in journalism – it’s taken a bit of getting used to the idea of a “community newspaper,” being from a big city, but I think that my time on the Missourian really has helped me feel connected to Columbia in a way that most college students never can.
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
E-mail: bre5f5@mizzou.edu
Career Goals: When I first started thinking about journalism, I really wanted to cover politics in some form, preferably on a national scale. Having worked in Columbia for a few months now, I’ve realized that local politics – since they have a more direct, tangible impact on a community – are actually more interesting to me from a reporter’s standpoint. As far as my career goes, I’d probably like to continue covering local government in some capacity for a newspaper after I graduate, although state and national issues are probably what I’m more passionate about, personally. I’d really like to write for a newspaper back home in Texas, but would certainly not be opposed to staying in Missouri if the right opportunity were to arise.
Why Journalism Interests Me: That is a good question – I think I’m gonna go with a two-part answer here.
Back in high school I really loved writing – it was something I was good at, but more important, it was something I could actually be proud of. For instance, I was always pretty good at math, but I never really got the same personal satisfaction from solving an equation that I got from writing essays, fiction, articles – you name it. So, somewhere along the line I had an English teacher who gave this whole spiel about how important journalism was to society. I’m not sure if I was particularly impressed with his pitch that we all become journalists in order to save American democracy, but it did provide me with a practical way to write for a living, and I haven’t considered another profession since.
This semester, though, I’ve realized just how enjoyable and satisfying journalism can be. The parts I thought I would dread – interviews and writing under deadline, especially – have turned out to be the most exciting parts.
Having said that, I’ve always believed that journalism really is important to democracy, but that’s a mission statement; it doesn’t explain my personal passion for it.
Other Interests: I’m a huge sports fan – probably excessively so. Basketball is my favorite sport to play, but I enjoy most anything that isn’t soccer. I also like to write, as I’ve mentioned, although I probably don’t write as much in my free time as I’d like to.
I like a wide variety of music – my favorite bands include Pink Floyd, the Beatles, the Arcade Fire, and Radiohead.
