Greensburg Rebirth: Reflection

It took me a long time to decide whether I should take this class. I mulled it over for most of the spring semester.

It scared me. It was far from what was familiar. I wasn't friends with anyone in the class. I feared my skills in audio and video wouldn't be enough.

I decided not to take the class.

There were other good reasons, too. I wanted to attend the Found event, and I had to get back early on the last day for a wedding rehearsal.

Decision made. Not going.

However, I kept the decision to myself. I didn't share it with the class's instructor, Les Anderson. Quietly, I just didn't enroll.

Then about six weeks before the class was scheduled to start, I got an e-mail from Les. He talked about story ideas, how the class was going to work, where we were going to stay, and the new expansion into Twitter. He also congratulated me on my scholarships and said they were well-deserved.

Dang it.

How could I not take this class now? How could I turn down one of the most connected people in Wichita communications? How could I say no to an instructor I genuinely liked?

I couldn't.

And now, looking back, those two weeks in Greensburg made for the second best experience (after The Eagle internship) that I've had while at WSU.

I think I've covered all the reasons individually in prior posts. Collectively, the interviews, the residents, the volunteers and the other project members made this an incredible and unique class setting.

When we gathered in the ESC parking lot on the first morning, I offered a ride to someone I had just met. I didn't know anything about her, except for the fact she needed a ride to Greensburg, and I had room in my car.

Once in the car, I asked her what kind of music she liked or if she was a fan of NPR.

It turns out, she is a fan of NPR, good coffee, picky grammar, Barack Obama and snarky comments.

I never went away to summer camp as a kid, but I assume it is something like that. We bonded instantly and kept each other entertained for two weeks. I found this to be particularly remarkable because if you know me at all, you know I don't make friends easily.

Of course, the biggest lesson I learned, which I am constantly learning, is to not make decisions based on fear.

I almost missed an incredible opportunity because I was afraid.

I need to learn to be afraid of missing an incredible opportunity.