Since the age of 12, I've wanted to be a sports journalist. My grandfather worked for the San Francisco 49ers so I grew up living and breathing sports, specifically football.
Seeing women like Erin Andrews on the sideline interviewing some of the country's best athletes inspired me beyond words. So, coming to the University of South Carolina and sitting in my freshman year journalism 101 class, I was ready to learn and come out being the best I could be.
Because I got lost around campus, I ended up getting to class right on time and had to sit in the very back of the classroom next to a boy who couldn't bother to look up from his laptop as I tried to maneuver my way down the aisle to the open seat. When I sat down I overheard him talking to the guy next to him about how they were both broadcast majors because they wanted to go into sports — hey, maybe I could make some friends on day one, right? Wrong.
While listening to the conversation, I noticed that they were talking about what they specifically wanted to do in sports journalism and both of them wanted to be behind the desk analysts/personalities. They started talking about everyone else and looked at me and asked why I was in journalism.
I looked at them and said, "Sports, I'm here for sports."
The guy down the aisle from me said cool and decided to move on with his day, but the guy next to me couldn't believe it. He laughed and told me:
"Yeah, right, all the guys are here for sports. The girls in this room are here for entertainment maybe, but mostly they're just here to be weather women."
To be completely honest, I wasn't as hurt as I was just shocked. The words that came out of his mouth just stunned me. Now, a side note, I have yet to see this guy since then so I'm assuming he changed majors.
This has nothing to do with me not wanting to be a weather broadcaster. The world needs them and they do a very good job at what they do. That being said, it's not the career path that I want.
I know that going into sports is a male-dominated industry and that women have to work harder to have the same respect that other men get, but entering my fourth year at USC, I have seen the women that will be entering this workforce and let me tell you, they're gonna kick some butt once they enter the professional field.
So basically here's what I have to say to that very intelligent, kind boy from my journalism 101 class who tried to intimidate me out of my dream job:
I'm graduating in nine months and I'm applying to every sports broadcasting job in the country.
Hopefully, I'll make it big time, and I truly look forward to being your boss one day.
Sincerely,
The girl who should "just do weather."
