Amirah knew early on that her future was in journalism.
Why did you decide to pursue your major?
I decided to pursue journalism because of a combined love of writing and storytelling. I started watching the news when I was in sixth grade after my teacher asked us to share a current event to class every week, and that was when I realized I enjoy talking about other people's stories. I often shared information about a current event with my friends that they didn't even know about until I told them. From that point on, I knew journalism was my calling.
What has been your favorite part of your experience at the Hubbard School?
My favorite part of my experience has been the hands-on experiences I've been getting in some of my classes. For example, I got to work with cameras, interview officials from the Twin Cities, report for social media, and maintain a blog as part of in-class activities. I also love meeting people within the major and getting to see them in my classes and at events.
Which course or professor would you recommend for other students in your major?
I would recommend taking News Reporting and Writing. It's a great course that teaches you about writing for the news in a newsroom-like format. You'll get tips on how to interview people, where to find sources, and how to write in AP style. Not to mention, it's a great way to get clips for your portfolio. Even if you aren't planning to go into print, these skills are valuable in other areas.
What minors, internships, or activities are you pursuing outside of your major? How do you think these enhance your major and/or your future career plans?
I am a reporter and manager of the Content Diversity Board at the Minnesota Daily and have participated in a micro-internship at the Park Bugle. I am also involved within the multicultural community through being a member of Delta Phi Omega, a multicultural sorority on campus, and attending multicultural events. Through my involvement, I have learned to be open-minded with people's experiences and perspectives, which I think is an important quality to have as a journalist who will have to report on different stories and different perspectives.
What advice do you have for future Hubbard School students?
Take advantage of everything the Hubbard School has to offer — they don't simply offer classes for you to take. They will host career events and discussions centered around a Hubbard School major and also have lots of student organizations that you can join. I think these opportunities are beneficial and provide a lot of insight. They will help you discover your passions within your major and teach you everything you need to know about the industry.
What is one aspect of your major that has surprised you?
I was surprised with how much you can do with your major. Even if you're not set on a certain career path, you can take a variety of classes within your major that talk about a variety of topics and teach you different skills. All of the skills you can learn in your classes can be showcased in other ways (for example, having multimedia skills could be helpful in roles involving content creation, directing, etc) or be useful to have in your pocket when the time comes.
What do you wish you had known about your career path before now?
I wish I had known that interviewing people is not always going to be easy - people are not always reachable via email or social media, so sometimes you will have to go to other means to contact sources.
