Sports as a cultural unifier

“Where I’m from, sports is everything.” In an interview with my classmate Damian Reynolds, I was once again reminded of the passions that brought us all to the Sports Journalism Institute. All 12 of us came here to learn, to improve our writing skills, to become more observant journalists and to share in the glory of sports. This afternoon (Memorial Day), we strengthened our bonds while completing an interview activity that allowed us to learn more about each other through the process of writing biographies for the 2016 Bulletin. Regardless of our backgrounds, we all live for the games, the tournaments, the championships. The wins, the struggles, and the stories. Every aspect of athletics lends itself to a story, and by the end of the week, I hope to have the skills to deliver those story with the style and voice of a professional. -- Shannon Scovel