As a lifelong listener of NPR, even applying to this intensive felt like a deeply sacred and overwhelmingly beautiful choice for myself. There’s the whole “never meet your heroes” mentality, and I really hoped that wasn’t applicable to my emotional-support public media station. Thank goodness that was the furthest thing from the truth. From the minute I walked in the door, I was warmly embraced by everyone here.
I graduated from college over a decade ago, and like many college grads, wasn’t exactly sure what direction I wanted to go — except for never wavering on the fact that I wanted to write. Writing and telling stories has been a part of my DNA, but when you graduate it can be hard to know how you want to write and what you want to write, and who is going to be willing to pay you for your words. But I took my time, and that meant doing stories both big and small for magazines, websites, newspapers and companies that needed any kind of basic writing. I never wavered from my original intention of wanting to write, and though there were times I couldn’t find steady work, I always freelanced when I could, and remained open to any opportunities. I think it’s that remaining open part that has served me so well. I know there are ebbs and flows in the world of journalism and creative writing, and I’ve come to accept it as part of the process.
Being able to help other people tell their stories is one of the greatest privileges of my life. Getting to meet someone, at whatever version of themselves they are when our paths cross, and then getting to help them tell their story is so powerful. I have interviewed hundreds of people in my career, and even if I can’t remember every detail of their story, I always remember their faces and how they made me feel. This past week was no exception to that. My source made such a lasting impression on me that I’ll carry with me forever. She taught me about resilience and the importance of freedom, of healing and of telling your story, however quietly, and in whatever corners of your life feel the most safe.
It’s no secret that it’s a really difficult time in the world right now. There are people and institutions who don’t want these kinds of stories to be told or heard or published, but that’s one of the biggest reasons I wanted to tell it. I’ve learned this week just how pertinent audio storytelling is — to be able to have a tangible piece of someone’s voice to hold onto forever. Because even though they try to take these stories, they’ll never be able to bury them, or erase them, or make them any less important. I’m so grateful for my time here, and being able to learn more about the ins and outs of audio so that I can carry on with my audio storytelling as a new medium for my writing. It’s a gift to know you’re never too old to learn something new, and I’m extremely grateful to my mentor, the team I’ve worked with, NPR, and OPB for this incredible opportunity.