Jenny Chiu

Daughter of Chinese father, Mexican mother. Sister of two amazing brothers. Student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Varsity athlete on UNC Women’s Soccer Team. Citizen of USA and Mexico.

When I was in elementary school, I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up just like every other kid in the class was. At the time, I was sure I wanted to be a professional soccer player, not that I don’t want that anymore… but it is not my biggest dream anymore.

Now that I am 21 years old, I am more aware of the world around me.

I had no idea what I wanted to do as a profession post soccer, until my sophomore year of college. A girl I barely knew told me about this sports television show she was a part of and it caught enough of my interest for me to register for the class. I had no idea what I was signing up for at the time.

I showed up for the first day of class and felt so out of place… everyone in the room knew each other and they had a specific jargon that I was alien to. They made inside jokes and laughed with the professor, Dr. Tuggle. I sat in the corner and questioned what I was doing in this class. We began to go over tutorials and a practice show. This involved looking at the technical key board and being told it was easy to work… there were thirty plus buttons on the board and they were saying it was easy. I felt so overwhelmed. For the practice show I was a camera person, essentially I thought that meant I didn’t do anything. FALSE. I psyched myself out so much that I stood at the camera, freezing cold, trying to hold the camera in place perfectly that I almost made myself pass out by locking my knees for so long. I did not have the greatest impression of the class after that day, I was terrified of what was to come.

Fast forward to senior year.

I love broadcast journalism. All the buttons on the technical board are no longer intimidating and impossible. I can handle being prompter without being too afraid to ruin the show. I remember to bend my knees and breathe when I am behind the camera. There is still a lot of pressure that comes with being a part of the show, but I know that this is all a part of learning and that if I am too afraid to make a mistake, I will and I will have a miserable time. So I will push my comfort zone and force myself to be on air as much as possible. I will do as many stand ups as I can and hopefully I will gain the confidence I am lacking to be the sports broadcaster I want to be. I can’t wait to look back and laugh at how nervous I used to get before being in front of the camera. I can’t wait to see what I am going to become.

Jenny Chiu

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