Carolyne Park - Fall 1999

It was a brush with my own mortality that drove me to go into journalism.

I had spent two complacent years in architecture school at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. On Sept. 9, 1997, I was hit by a teenage driver. The experience made me realize I had the right to be happy with what I was doing, because it can all change in an instant.

I had always enjoyed writing, and have a history of journalism in my family. Both my grandfather and great-grandfather were editors at the Kansas City Star. My great-grandfather was awarded two Pulitzers. I have no hopes of gaining such prestige, but I do feel there is some inherent force that drove me to my career choice.

At the school paper I worked as a reporter and academics editor. I graduated in August with my bachelors in journalism. I had been working for the Press Enterprise, a small community weekly in the town of Farragut,
Tenn., since December 1998. The paper survives on the editor, one reporter, one photographer, and a few stringers. The load was heavy, but I enjoyed every minute of it.

I covered everything from school board, planning commission, board of mayor and aldermen, to local business and community interest stories.

I gave it all up to come to the Scripps Howard Foundation Semester in Washington Program. The opportunity was just too great to pass up.

So here I am, ready to make the most of this opportunity, as well as every opportunity given to me in the future.

I hope to be employed at a daily shortly after the internship ends Dec. 17.

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