One of things that I take pride in most is my ability to not only get along with people, but also my ability to work with people and accomplish multiple tasks. Oftentimes people love to categorize themselves as a leader, but not me. I definitely have leadership qualities, but my greatest strength is my ability to be supportive. The reason why I say I work really well in groups or in a team is because of my supportive nature. In every group activity that I’ve been involved in my role was simply to support the entire team as a whole. I am the one who makes sure everyone feels heard and contributes. I make sure that everyone involved is not only satisfied with the finished product, but also proud of the work we’ve done. I do not usually assume the title of leader, but I definitely lead in a subtle way. 

 

I would say my outlook on impact has changed in a major way within the last year. Taking the position that I usually have in groups has shown me just how powerful I can be. Most times the ones on top or the heads of a team gets the most shine and recognition. Oftentimes it is the ones underneath who work very hard but sometimes go unnoticed. The ones in the background that push the work forward are sometimes the most under-appreciated, but still a very big part of the overall show. There's a saying that goes “Anything is possible if you don't mind not getting the credit” , and that is  absolutely true. Sometimes you won’t get recognized, sometimes the praise will go to one person over you. There's no getting around that. But the work done behind the scenes is still very much important, impactful and necessary. 

 

This all plays a role in how I would like to serve my passions. I want to create a space where everyone is heard and feels seen. I want the ones in the background to get recognized for their work. I want to create opportunities that allow people from every background to have those tough conversations and open their eyes to new perspectives. That is one of the reasons why I chose to major in Broadcast Journalism, because I know how powerful our voices can be. One of my biggest aspirations is to highlight the sometimes ignored people and their issues. I want to be able to highlight the issues that plague  marginalized people. I also would really like to work with music and up-incoming recording artists. The way I plan to accomplish this has yet to be determined.

 

Ultimately I would like to work in Radio and or T.V. as an on air host and work in every aspect of media. I believe that because my mother has always said I am so well spoken, over time I started to believe it. To prepare for this I’ve taken multiple writing courses, public speaking, radio production. Currently, I am interning at Central State University’s WCSU radio station where I am learning more of the technical skills it takes to operate a radio station. I believe my schooling and life's experiences have prepared me to work as a broadcast journalist where I could serve my passions and my community.

 

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Mikaela Curry 02/14/22