By Derek Legette
Edited by Ryan Quinn
I picture myself as a nascent "jack of all trades" who hasn't found my niche yet.
Reading, reporting, martial arts, exercising and just going out all quickly consume most of my week.
Growing up in South Carolina's Pee Dee, I experimented with many hobbies. I began to find myself when I started college.
I majored in journalism because I was interested in the writing, but I realized over time that creating text is just a small portion of the process.
I like a good story in any shape or form, so reading has always been a passion. But as I have dived into my minor, political science, especially international affairs, I have found myself narrowing my reading to the international sections of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Martial arts grabbed my attention when I was 19. Now that I'm 21, I've spent some time working on wrestling, but I still have a long way to go. That, along with exercising, has taught me patience and commitment.
I quickly picked up the habit of reporting as well, which makes me respect journalism all the more because I know it is a concentrated process that is rarely easy.
Reporting has hardened my professional skills and made me a committed worker. To me, journalism is a demanding, enlightening profession with no equal.
When I'm 26, I want a job that combines journalism and international affairs.
