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I’ve always considered myself a smart enough fellow, particularly mature and aware of what I wanted to do. Not really anymore, though. I think the realization of impending graduation will do that. As a youngster I wanted to be an athlete, but it’s not quite as simple as an incapable athlete turned sportswriter. Instead I wanted to be a lawyer, like my grandfather was before his retirement.
He and I share similar cynical outlooks, political viewpoints, and passion for sports. So since the beginning of high school I thought law school was what I wanted to do. I still think I might want to, but might seems like an awfully soft commitment level for such an endeavour. I also wanted to go to a more esteemed institution for my undergrad, but that didn’t ever really happen. No offense to the U of M, but if you’re not going for the J school, which I wasn’t, it isn’t the most sought-after degree. By my sophomore year, I added journalism to my english major. In learning the art of sportswriting, which truly has become a pleasure for me (except when on deadline for the Tiger Tipoff), I have developed a new passion which has muddled the view of my future.
Without knowing what I want to do, it’s hard to assess my strengths and weaknesses in my prospective field. But for this exercise I will look through the journalism prism, sports reporting, as my intended focus. I think my writing ability is my strength, but sometimes it lacks clarity. The Missourian is a blessing of a learning opportunity in the sense that you get real on the job training. That sounds too simple, but for what was a kid admiring Missouri athletes a few years ago (I’m a townie, I liked the Tigers), having access to the lockerroom is a thrill along with a job. The level of enjoyment I get from doing this, along with the satisfaction of a good article, is what has me wondering if law school is still for me.
I am not the most polished interviewer; I could never do broadcast. I am too shy to enjoy speaking on the air, deathly afraid of public speaking, and thus sometimes lack assertiveness in an interview setting. I also procrastinate, which is quickly being remedied, somewhat at least, because of hellish deadlines. Next Wednesday there is an eight o’clock game, which means after the coach twiddles his thumb for a half hour before his press conference, I will have about 20 minutes to turn around a story. If I’m not inc class following that game, it’s because Greg killed me.
He won’t though, because he’s a good guy. Greg Bowers and in my 105 class, Ray Murray, have both been great influences to learn under. Those are the types of opportunities I really cherish from this school.
I think beat writing is sort of my calling, if I stay with journalism, for the time being. I like the familiarity of a team, the rapport with a coach and players that comes with the regimen. Down the road I would like to do column writing. I like the ability to infuse a little bit of opinion. Columns also allow for more descriptive, in depth writing.
I have no real abilities, or desire to learn any medium outside of print. Therefore the decline of newspapers is a threat to this livelihood. Internet writing is ok, but I see it as a place to post a newspaper article. For my interests, it isn’t a job in and of itself to write for the internet.
It seems as if fusing my two areas, law and journalism, could work. I wouldn’t mind covering cops and courts, it’s just that I like sports so much more, and feel my knowledge base is much stronger in sports. Either way I am confident enough I will have a job, someday. I just don’t know what that might be at this point.

Drew Bruno