PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Phew—week six already! As I get closer and closer to the finish line of my time at WAVY, my eyes open more each day to what journalism truly means to me. With every new experience, I gain another piece of the puzzle that’s shaping my future in this field. Here are a few things I’ve learned so far:

1. You get better through repetition—practice, practice, practice.

Comparing my first standup to the ones I do now, I’ve improved so much. And trust me, the beginning was rough. It made me question if reporting was really for me. I was confused because standups at school never felt this hard. I didn’t realize that, as a reporter, you often don’t have time to rehearse or perfect your delivery—you have to say it in the moment.

But instead of giving up, I prayed and leaned on my peers. I asked them if they had ever felt nervous in front of the camera, or had their minds go blank from the pressure of not wanting to mess up. And to my surprise, they said yes—it gets better with time. That answer gave me so much relief. It pushed me to practice intentionally and take advantage of every opportunity to film a standup.

Now, I still get nervous, and I still have a lot to learn—but my confidence is growing. Each time I get in front of the camera, I start to figure out what works for me and what doesn’t. I truly believe that by the end of this internship, I’ll have found the icing on the cake—and nailed my standups!

2. Being a journalist means living a life of never-ending adventure.

Every day is unpredictable. You come in thinking you’re doing one thing, and suddenly you’re sent out on a story that might change halfway through the day. This week, I rode out with a reporter to the Outer Banks in North Carolina! It was a two-hour drive there and back. How wild is it to be assigned a story in another state like it’s no big deal? 

You’re constantly going to new places, meeting people from all walks of life, and never knowing what the day holds. And it’s not always fun—some stories are heavy and emotional in ways that most people don’t experience. Being a reporter requires a constant brave face. But the positives outweigh the negatives. Think about it: you’re spreading awareness and informing the public about things that truly matter. What a rewarding experience.

3. There are so many paths in journalism—how do you choose?

In journalism, the sky is truly the limit. Want to stay in the office? You can become a producer, writing for different newscasts, or direct a newscast, calling out all the camera shots. Want to be on camera? You could host a podcast, anchor behind the desk, or report out in the field.

The beauty of journalism is that you’re never stuck in a box—there’s so much to explore, and the skills are transferable. That’s why it’s so important to try as many roles as possible. You might start off wanting to be an anchor but fall in love with floor directing or producing behind the scenes. You never know until you try!