During my time at UIndy, I have played in the Jazz Ensemble, studied abroad in the United Kingdom and worked on an independent research project, but the one experience I never expected was The Reflector.
When I started college four years ago, joining The Reflector was not something I ever thought I would do. I have never been a big fan of writing, and to be completely honest I had picked up the newspaper maybe once before joining. But on my study abroad trip, Assistant Professor of Communication Katie Greenan, adviser for The Reflector, convinced me to join. I really did not know what I was getting myself into. I had never written a news article before and had no idea what went into making a newspaper. I am a biology major, so writing news articles and scheduling interviews was very different from my usual activities on campus. I was not sure what to expect. However, now that I have had a chance to be a part of a newsroom staff, I know firsthand what efforts go into jounalism. Before joining, I never thought about how much time and effort went into the news stories we read every day. Whether it is a piece about politics, sports, community events or anything else you may find in a newspaper, there is so much work that goes into interviews, writing, editing and designing a page. There is an art to a newspaper, and I am glad I got the chance to learn and appreciate it.
During my year on The Reflector, I have had the opportunity to meet people, learn about events on campus and the community around campus. I have gotten to take pictures, make graphics and I even got the chance to cover the election live last semester. There are so many things I got to do here that I never in a million years thought I would be a part of. If I had to pick one thing that really stuck out to me during my time here, I think it would be scheduling and conducting interviews. It was a bit nerve wracking at first, but after a while I think I figured it out and came to enjoy it.
When I started college at UIndy, I was unsure what the next four years would bring. I have learned that life has a way of throwing curveballs, and freshman year Gabriel had a much different plan than today’s Gabriel. However, I would not trade my time at UIndy and The Reflector for anything. Now that I am graduating, I am so glad that I joined. Being a part of the newspaper has taught me skills that will help me with whatever life throws at me next. It truly has been a pleasure to write for The Reflector, and I will carry the lessons I have learned here for the rest of my life.
