How Far Would You Go to Pursue Your Dreams?
Montclair’s influence spans America as junior Miguel Anderson makes his way to the east coast to pursue journalism.
Not many people would travel roughly three thousand miles across the nation just to attend a four-day workshop to prepare for college, but aspiring journalist Miguel Anderson’s passion for journalism and storytelling is second to none.
The California native flew for nearly five hours to attend Montclair State’s 2019 Summer Journalism Workshop in New Jersey.
“Everyone has been really welcoming and the workshop has been very fun so far,” said Anderson.
The seventeen year old, who resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, discovered the workshop while searching for summer programs offered to students from low income families.
“There’s a really limited amount of educational opportunities in journalism for low income students, so when I found out about this one, I figured visiting New Jersey would be nice and I applied,” he said.
He is currently a participant in SMASH, a STEM program centered around math and honors science, but Anderson feels that the journalism workshop has helped him branch out in a new and immersive field.
Anderson went as far as to create a Go Fund Me account to help raise the funds needed for his plane ticket through online donations. He received eight hundred dollars, which covered all of his travel expenses.
Anderson’s passion for journalism sparked when he first read an article in Complex magazine ranking fifty music albums. He decided to curate his own list of albums and artists that he enjoyed, and soon realized a love for writing about music that would eventually develop into an interest in journalism. His hopes are to work professionally in the music industry, but he has recently considered working towards obtaining degrees in either journalism or business.
While he has an internship with Wire Media in Oakland, he believes that he has learned more about the fundamentals of journalism at Montclair. Learning in-depth lessons surrounding the techniques and terminology of the field has benefited both him and his journalistic writing.
What the junior admires about New Jersey is how “mellow and laid-back” the people and atmosphere have been compared to the hustle and bustle of his home state. Anderson feels he has already forged new friendships with his fellow students at the workshop, explaining how he strives to meet new people and develop genuine connections with others.
“I’m a firm believer in the phrase, ‘If you want it, go get it,’” Anderson said, regarding what motivated him to reach out to Montclair and broaden his horizons, both figuratively and literally.
