A professor like Mary by Michael

A professor like Mary by Michael - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

One of the best college professors I ever had was Mary Hausch. Prior to teaching the next generation of journalists, she was a reporter and editor for Nevada’s largest newspaper.
We had a lot to learn from her as students and journalists in training.
One of the best exercises she would give us was a scenario in which all the students would get a news flash about a severe flood in Las Vegas.
With limited information, students had to think of who to contact as sources - Mary had a list of 14 potential contacts. While many of us couldn't get beyond five or six sources, the exercise taught us to start really thinking critically how to approach stories.
If the roles were reverse, I would want to be a college professor like Mary; I would want to teach print journalism to a new generation of college students.
Though I'm finally going to grad school to get more training in the field - I'm focusing on multimedia journalism and digital communications for my master's degree - I've been a reporter for six years.
I want to help students learn about being a journalist the way Mary did for me.
The things Mary taught me and the rest of my classmates has been beneficial to my career and time as a reporter. I would hope to do the same thing and show up-and-coming students what I've learned about being a journalist to help guide them the way Mary has guided me.
At many university's, the professors teaching journalism classes haven't had much field experience, rather they have gotten their master's degree or PhDs in the subject without having much practical time doing journalism.
I think students can really benefit from somehow who has done beat reporter, worked under deadlines, conducted tough interviews and written a breaking news story. I still have much to learn, but I would love to teach what I do know if I had the chance.
Beyond advance reporter, Mary also taught media ethics. While some have viewed this class as a waste, this helped me - and the majority of students in the field - think critical about what is right and wrong when it comes to reporting.
Like Mary, I would like to use my experience to help students start thinking about what is and isn't ethical when it comes to reporting.
Often times, I think back to class discussions when I have an ethical decision to make in my writing and career. Yet again, it was because of Mary's guidance I have been comfortable in my choices.
Beyond college, Mary is the type who keeps connected with her students sending them notes of encouragement and congratulations every time they have a victory in their life or career. She has been a mentor beyond the college classroom. We need more professors like Mary.
If the roles were reversed, I would like to be a journalism professors and pay it forward. I would like to help new students the way my professors and mentors helped me. Mary played a great role in my life and I want to do the same for someone else.