Hey babes in Cyberspace, just taking some time
off from writing my admissions essay for a Free Press internship to update ya.
Finals, mid-terms, the holidays, it's enough to make anyone forget about their
blog.
So, let's start with last week. On November 4, 2008, the United States elected
it's first black president. What an amazing night. It's inspiring, and just
makes me believe in the power of hope and civic duty in this country. After
years of being alienated by the system people came together and vote with their
hearts, rather than with the smear campaign or the lies.
But that's not what makes it my greatest moment (so far). It's amazing that the
night America got to see an American Dream realized, I got to realize a dream
of my own. I was on Detroit Public Radio.
What a wild night! Jerome Vaughn (managing editor) handed out microphones and
note pads and sent us interns out to political celebrations all over the state
to get the vibe of the election in Michigan. Keep in mind this is the very
first time I've ever been on radio and it was going to be live...without a
script. I was suppose to ad-lib it like I was speaking to a dear old friend,
and I wish I could say I pulled it off with all the suaveness I always saw
myself possessing as a broadcast journalist. But honestly?
I choked. I choked big time. I hastily wrote down a script, said 'um' a
thousand times and had a panic attack. I literally fell apart on one of our most
heavily listened to nights on one of the most amazing nights in American
history. I can hear my pathetic 'um's echoing against the chanting voters
yelling 'Yes we can!'. No clearly, I cannot.
Though I can't be too hard on myself. These internships are about learning, and
I learned a lot about myself that night. I learned how to make an elected official
feel open and friendly towards you. I learned how to deal with bitter anger and
disappointment while having to keep your face up to your interview. And I learn,
this is a hard gig, but it is beyond rewarding when you get to stand there and
watch the red, white and blue balloons fall over a huge crowd of thousands and
think, 'I'm making recording this. I'm a small part of history.'
...Also
I generally learn to be Van Dam.
Besides, it was a dream fulfilled.
