Monday, October 8, 2012

Q&A with Gretchen Morgenson


                On Wednesday morning (October 3), I woke up early to attend the Q&A session with Gretchen Morgenson of the New York Times.  I took my time walking to the Brimhall, and as soon as I walk in and turn to the left to get a copy of the paper, sure enough, there was Gretchen Morgenson.  I wasn’t sure right away if it was her, but as I followed her and her assistant down the hall, they stopped in confusion, not knowing where to go.  I asked her if she needed help finding the atrium (assuming it was her), so I lead them upstairs.  On the way up, I confirmed that she was Mrs. Morgenson.  She proceeded to ask me my name, what my college plans were, and what I hoped to find a future career in.  In response to my wanting to become a journalist, she gave me the following advice: “It’s definitely a worthwhile pursuit.  Stick with it.”

                I never expected to have such an influential albeit short opportunity as that.  Her Q&A session helped me gain a perspective of what a journalist’s life is like, which in turn made me think about what kind of a journalist I want to be.  With a little advice, she helped push me in the right direction, and with her Q&A session, she helped me further articulate what exactly I want to (or don’t want to) be doing.  I am grateful I walked into the Brimhall when I did—otherwise, I do not know if I would have felt so encouraged to continue on the path I am currently taking.   

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