About

 Reflection

Over the course of the semester, I was tasked with writing three drastically different pieces all centered around sports: a memoir, a press release, and a feature story. While these pieces may vary in subject matter, I made sure to stay true to my motto of “Real fans. Real Athletes. Real moments.” in each piece I wrote. 

Whether it was telling my own story in the memoir, the story of a friend in my feature article, or even looking back into the history books of Florida State with my press release, each story has a unique reason as to why I decided to share it.

Starting off with my memoir, titled Finding My Voice, I knew I wanted to write a love letter of sorts to sports, and I felt as if there was no better way to do that than to discuss my second job working in collegiate athletics as a public address announcer. It was in this role that I discovered a different side to myself, and rediscovered why I fell in love with sports in the first place. It wasn’t the competition, or the big plays, but the sense of community that comes with sports, and can only be brought by sports.

Next, we move on to my press release regarding a hypothetical “throwback game” for Florida State Football. This is something that, as a fan, I would love to see done from the Seminoles. I also wanted to use the piece as a celebration of the program, using the legacy uniforms as a representation of the success and glory seen throughout the 1990s in Tallahassee, with the Seminoles finishing in the top five for 14 consecutive years, winning two national titles in that span.

Finally, for my feature story titled More Than Waves, I wanted to explore sport beyond the traditional field, expanding the horizons of both myself and audiences. This story, to me, is what sports are all about. The passion, the love, and the drive showcased in the story are all perfect representations of what I want to convey moving forward.

The three pieces, despite their imperfections, showcase a small part of my writing journey over the course of this semester, as I learned not only more about the world of sports writing but also re-ignited a passion for sportswriting that had previously dwindled over time.

As I reflect on this past semester, I am thankful for the chance to have been introduced to a select few of the various topics within the growing realm of sports media, as I now have expanded upon my platform. With that foundation, I have given myself a clear goal, using my writing skillset to create a brand that caters to organic storytelling, which is something I believe the sports world is in desperate need of today.

The past four months in ENC 3934 taught me more about sports writing than I imagined, and once again, I am thankful to have had the opportunity to not only take the course but to do so at such an amazing institution.