This is Not a Reflection.

I was very, very nervous when I read the syllabus for the first time. I had no idea how to film anything (minus a football game for my brother), or how to edit. Heck, I was even nervous thinking about interviewing someone.

            I kept telling myself, “I’ll learn how to do this, I'll be okay.” I was right, I did learn how to do the things I didn’t know how to do, but I would say my biggest accomplishment is gaining confidence in myself.

            My storytelling skills skyrocketed because of Digital Storytelling. I learned a new way of writing and a new language. I learned to understand the power of digital storytelling to inform, influence, and inspire.

A picture my friend got of my filming my shooting lab

            From the articles to filming a mini documentary , these assignments pushed me outside of my comfort zone, allowing me to connect with the full process—from pre-production and writing a script to shooting and post-production. I had many ups and downs throughout these assignments, but from these setbacks, I learned how to bounce back and be adaptable with setbacks.

            I had numerous setbacks with my podcasts. I was just learning how to use Adobe Audition  and thought I deleted my entire work because my MacBook froze. I stayed up until 4am until I finished. These setbacks taught me how to be resilient and taught me a lesson of what to avoid next time.

            Setbacks are a part of the process. If you don’t experience difficulties, well, I guess you’re perfect, but you don’t learn how to think critically and find ways to improve. I became more patient, not only with myself, but the process of making a story.

            My favorite project I created was my mini documentary. I was (still am) extremely passionate about my story and wanted more people to know my story. I conducted interviews and b-roll I’m proud of and can tell a meaningful story. My mini doc taught me not just the technical stuff, but also the importance of planning, empathy, and responsibility when telling a story that impacts many people.

            In the future, I can use the skills I learned for internships and jobs. I created an e-portfolio for this class and my dad already hired me to create a website for his custom-home building company. I want to further use my skills in video production, social media, and even narrative stories. The confidence I’ve gained in Digital Storytelling gave me new possibilities, and I now see storytelling not just as a skill of mine, but as a way to make an impact.

These are my sorority sisters and they’ve given me advice about what stories to tell and helped my with some of my setbacks