Briana Byrd
Visiting national monuments and meeting professional journalists weren't the only things I did when I traveled to Washington D.C. for the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Conference.

At the Conference, I met and networked with people including Tim Russert, from Meet the Press, and Bob Schiefer, former CBS Nightly News anchor. I also visited the USA Today building and learned about how the first amendment has influenced our music in a program called Freedom Sings.

One of my most memorable experiences was meeting the other free spirits from around the country, who had been selected to receive the scholarship. Hearing their stories and seeing how they have and will make a difference inspired me.

A story I will never forget was one from a student representing Washington D.C. He was born and raised in Ethiopia, where he lived in poverty and was homeless. It wasn't until he and his mother received word of a family member living in the states, that they began an even harder journey to move to a better country. After moving here he faced his own hardships, for he spoke no English and struggled in school. He felt discouraged and attempted to give up until a teacher took it upon herself to help him succeed. Everyday he and his teacher would work on his English before and after school. It was because of teachers like her and others that he became motivated to pursue journalism.

As I talked to him I asked him what he planned to accomplish through journalism. He told me that he wanted to make a difference in places like Ethiopia and stress to American students who are not excelling, that they must realize how lucky they are to be living in the United States.

Receiving a scholarship and learning about journalism were just some of the things I took back with me. I also realized that journalism is what I really want to do with my life. That being a journalist is more than just someone who writes for a newspaper or talks on the news; it is someone who can make a difference in the world.

Another experience I will never forget is when we met the Editor of Parade magazine. I was motivated by his desire to help others through journalism and I was intrigued at how he was able to accomplish his goal in a way he would have never previously expected. He had originally entered publishing, where he worked to produce children's books. However when he joined Parade, he realized he could more positively affect children, through articles about issues regarding life today.

Journalism is a way to get needed information to the public who would otherwise remain uniformed. It is a way to expose issues that must be resolved. Journalism has, is, and will continue to change lives. This is why I want to be a journalist.

Looking back on my experience at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Conference, I will remember that a free spirit is one who fights against the obstacles to achieve success and change lives for the better.