J110 Assignment: Photo Postcard

Ryan Beam (17) of Santa Cruz, Calif., poses in front of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage, on display outside of the rocket company’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California, on Tuesday, April 30, 2019

My name’s Ryan Beam, I’m an incoming freshman planning to study mechanical engineering here at Berkeley. Like all humans, I’ve been interested in telling stories for as long as I can remember, which is what drew me to this course.

The closest thing I have to multimedia experience comes from doing annual science fair projects, where I’ve learned that an effective combination of photographs, writing, infographics, and verbal presentation can be as important to a project’s success as the science itself. A few years ago, I competed at the International Science & Engineering Fair, where I had one of my first encounters with a bona fide journalist.

Although my academic focus is on engineering, I recognize journalism as a valuable tool for responsible citizenship. Last year I published op-eds in the Los Angeles Times and The Sacramento Bee advocating for a state constitutional amendment; this year I’m writing for my local newspaper, where last month I covered my small town’s first ever protest, among other things. I’m eager to learn more so that I can become a better communicator on all fronts!