A summer of lessons
It’s my last day as a local desk intern at The Oklahoman. I’ve never been good with goodbyes, so I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Here are some things I’ve learned this summer.
Life lessons:
- Wherever I am in the world, there’s going to be someone kind enough to help me out.
- I can be miles and miles from home and actually survive.
- Singing in the car is a great stress reliever. Eric Church’s “Springsteen” was a summer favorite.
Journalism lessons:
- I’m leaving this summer with a more conversational style of writing.
- As a journalist, I might have to dig through someone’s trash to find the facts.
- The story isn’t in my notes, it’s in my head.
- Compassion is important in journalism.
Random facts:
- Blue-green algae is toxic, especially to children and animals.
- Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days for 911 calls.
- The scissor-tailed flycatcher is Oklahoma’s state bird.
This is only a taste of what I’ve learned. If I listed everything, I’d be writing forever. I’ve enjoyed my time in Oklahoma and at the paper. I’m excited about what my future holds. Soon, I’ll be “Back Home Again in Indiana.”
TOP 3: Disabilities
My very first post I wrote about how this blog would be my outlet. After this week I am extremely glad I do have that privilege, considering the fact that writing has always been a way for me to heal and overcome adversity. Today, I want to discuss the Top 3: Disadvantages to having a disability and the lessons I have learned from it.
For the majority of my childhood I’ve had to cope with the negative affects and effects of having epilepsy due to a brain injury I received while I was at the skating rink when I was young. I have not had a seizure for at least 6 years know nor have I had to take medication for epilepsy. I haven’t really discussed the disability I once had, but sometimes I feel as if I am still coping with having once had a disability. Through it all I most consistently remind myself of these three things below when problems arise.
1.) Remembering the important things in life - More than one time this week I’ve had experiences that have brought me to tears. I had been upset with myself for misplacing items that would have cost more money to replace. So, I cried from being so upset and frustrated with myself for not remembering important things. At my age, I should have no problem remembering.The hardest part is not knowing. Not knowing why I forget things as much as I do. Not knowing the effects of the many seizures I had while I was a child. And not knowing whether the medication I had been given by doctors has caused long-term effects that I still have to cope with today.
The lesson I have learned is: To take things slow. While somethings may be harder for me at times, I have to remind myself to just take things slow and my circumstances will get better.
2.) Basic and Simple task - Tasks that are simple and easy to do are things I have trouble with at times. As a journalist, this especially becomes a problem. Basic information is crucial to every story. If journalist cannot get the basic information in a story than more than likely his/her career becomes short lived. The other day, I was just reminded by an editor to try and remember to include the basic information in a story, and I immediately came down on myself for forgetting to include that information. I’m pretty sure it crossed my mind to include the information he was asking for in the story, but I became so involved in the story itself and all the details I wanted to include to make it a good story that I forgot about the basic information. In spite of him saying that I did a good job on the story, in my mind I didn’t. I always strive to do my best, so it is very disappointing to know that my best is not good enough.
The second lesson I have learned is: Never be too critical of yourself. It’s never easy to cope a disability nor is it easy to overcome. But if you keep trying to achieve your goals, eventually you will succeed. Persistence pays off.
3.) Equality - I’ve never been one to think of myself as having a disability, but the reality is I did have a disability. I believe most people who have a disability want to be treated as an equal. The ironic thing is, as much as you want to be treated equal, there are some situations when you placed on an unequal playing field due to a disability and necessary accommodations may need to be made. In spite of adversity, I strongly believe in the adage, you can do anything you put your mind to just like anyone else. Even if you have to accomplish things in a different manner, the only thing that matters is that you believe in yourself.
The third lesson I have learned is: Remember the positive things more than the negative. When you have bad days, deal with them accordingly, but don’t dwell on the negative. Cherish all the positive moments in life. Celebrate every victory, even if it is small. Smile in the face of adversity.
TOP 3: Historical Events
Through journalism, I have acquired a great interest in historical events. As a result, I would like to discuss the TOP 3: Most Significant Historical Events in the history of the United States.
With a rich history of a little more than 230 years, the TOP 3 events isn’t an easy task, but why not go for challenge?
The single most important event in U.S. history is:
1.) The Declaration of Independence in 1776
Without the Declaration of Independence, the U.S.A. — as it exist today– probably would have never been… I would dare to say that this was the time when Democracy existed in its purest form. Not that Democracy doesn’t exist today, but I strongly believe the nation has strayed far from democracy and what the “founding fathers” intended it to be.
2.) The Civil War
The Civil War should be in any list about historical events considering the fact that it was the Civil War that United the States. Without the War The USA may have easily been known as the DSA – The Divided States of America.
I wonder if the U.S. would be like N. Korea and S. Korea today?
Many people believe the Civil War happened as a result of slavery. However, The Civil war was no more than a power struggle between two competing economies, two competing viewpoints and two competing presidents who wanted to be on top…For the record, the Emancipation Proclamation did not free all states in South. In my opinion, the slaves became free because the war devastated the South leaving them with very few means to continue to enforce slavery to the same degree they had before the Civil war.
3.) The Civil Rights Movement
I shutter to think about what the America we know today would be like without the Civil Rights movement. In spite of what many may think the Civil Rights was not about race. It was about obtaining the very rights that were sought for all citizens of the “new world.” The “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” as stated in the Declaration of Independence. Those unalienable rights were sought for every U.S. citizen regardless of gender, race, religion, creed, etc.
P.S. Its hard to analyze events that have occurred within the last 20-30 years or so because I don’t think we can even begin to grasp the magnitude of just how those events may have changed American History. So I did not include any events that occurred within that decade.
Other events that I thought about choosing from include: WWI, WWII, Pearl Harbor, the Womens Rights Movement, the assassination of former president Kennedy, the Louisiana Purchase, the Moonwalk, the Industrial Revolution, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl,the Vietnam War, the Mexican American war…there’s so many events that could be listed here this list is by no means exhaustive.
The Oklahoman’s Sports Writers Were Right
I can admit when I was wrong. And I was. The Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Finals in five games.
However, there weren’t flaws in my arguments. The Magic had, to that point, played better when no one believed in them (see Games 2-4). And, with the exception of the first and last games, the Magic were not adversely destroyed by poor matchups against the Lakers. The Orlando Magic were not beat by the Los Angeles Lakers, though the Lakers helped some. The Orlando Magic beat themselves.
I didn’t realize the Magic’s lack of an ability to finish games. If the Magic had the ability to close out when given opportunities, the series would have been 3-1 Magic going into Game 5 in Orlando. In that situation, I would have been right and the Magic would be celebrating.
However, the Magic apparently can’t finish games or capitalize on fourth-quarter closing-seconds opportunities. In nearly identical situations, games 2 and 4 were tied with mere seconds on the clock and the Magic had the ball. Game 2: In-bound to the only person I wouldn’t in-bound the ball to. Lee misses the game-winning layup, Lakers win in overtime. Game 4: With four seconds to work with, the Magic couldn’t get a crucial shot to tie the series up. Lakers win in overtime.
Maybe it was the Magic’s inability to finish games that The Oklahoman’s NBA Finals predictors saw that I didn’t. Maybe it’s because I’m an intern and they’ve been doing what they do a long time. Either way, I was wrong. They were right. And the Magic disappointed me.
The Oklahoman’s Sports Writers Are Wrong
Wow. Did I grab your attention?
Yesterday The Oklahoman’s top sports writers told who they like in this year’s NBA Finals. Watch and read content here. But I think they are all wrong.
All five writers chose the Lakers in either five or six games, meaning they think the Magic will win only one–two at most–game in the series. And I don’t think that will happen.
If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t Boston supposed to deal with Orlando in five? Or Cleveland. “The Chosen One.” Wasn’t Lebron supposed to easily hurdle over the minor roadblock that was the Magic?
The entire postseason people have been second-guessing the Magic. Even when they took a series lead against Boston, analysts and experts said the Celtics had their wake-up call and would respond by winning the series. Remember all the talk after Game 2 of the series with Cleveland? That RIDICULOUS 3-pointer Lebron hit to put the Magic away (on my birthday)? People said King James would take control of the series and Orlando’s magic run in the playoffs was over.
But here we are. Magic and Lakers. NBA Finals. Guess who is the underdog for the third straight series in the postseason?
But I think it’s OK. I’m glad the sports writers chose the Lakers. I don’t think the Magic would win it otherwise.
The thing about the Magic is that they play best when few believe in them. They’re the NBA’s “Cinderella” team. But anyone who’s seen them play cannot discount the fact that Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Rafer Alston, Mickael Pietrus and the rest have played ridiculously incredible basketball the last few weeks, even without Jameer Nelson.
They took the Boston series and won the conference title against Lebron and the Cavs while the Lakers limped through the playoffs, a meltdown game coming every two or three contests.
The whole time, as no one has believed in them, the Magic have been playing better and better and better. The Lakers, as everyone believes them destined to win, have been playing sloppy and lackadaisical basketball.
My point is that no one believes the Magic have a chance. That’s why MY prediction is Magic in six.
Nicknames in the Newsroom
The Oklahoman sports columnist Berry Tramel likes to give nicknames.
I learned this my first day on the job. When I arrived in the press box at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium to cover the Women’s College World Series, writers Berry Tramel, Jenni Carlson and Scott Wright were already there. I was a little nervous (my first day and all) and a little intimidated (I’ve been reading those writers’ work for years), so I listened a bit to see what I could pick up.
It didn’t take long before I discovered Berry likes to give nicknames. A few examples: MKB, Miss Saigon and, my personal favorite, J.G. Whitfield.
Each nickname makes sense when you get him to explain the thought process that went into it and each is acceptable in all references to the person for Berry. I wondered how long it would take before I received a rite-of-passage nickname from Mr. Tramel.
Three days.
I arrived at the stadium on Sunday and was greeted by a shiny new nickname: Corleone. The nickname makes sense in and of itself to anyone who has seen Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” because my last name is Corley. But the explanation goes deeper, like it usually does with Berry. Apparently–and I have yet to check this out for myself–on the first day my work with The Oklahoman went in print, there was a column in the paper that mentioned either the Godfather or Don Corleone himself. It was meant to be.
Welcome to The Oklahoman.
