Brielle Meyer

Brielle Meyer

Here’s a column I wrote reflecting on my time at Grand Valley State University, and wrote for the purpose of decorating my graduation cap. I’ve included an image of the column laid out as it was for my cap as well as just written out to be easier to read. From eating Panda Express in the library during late-night study sessions with friends to attending various symposiums and events where I was able to meet so many accomplished and inspiring people, my time at GVSU was invaluable. I hope to carry the knowledge and connections I found there throughout the rest of my life and career.

“We are the people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed now in universities, looking uncomfortably at the world we inherit.” The words from The Port Huron Statement, drafted by the Students for a Democratic Society in 1962 comes to mind when I think of my upcoming graduation. Maybe because I recently read Smoking Typewriters as an assignment for one of my last college courses, or maybe because the sentiment rings true for the feelings I’m currently grappling with. Discomfort, nervousness, but also excitement.

   Going to school for journalism during these last few years has been interesting to say the least. I’ve seen journalists tackle feats I couldn’t have imagined. From watching them handle persecution during the “fake news” era to setting up home studios during a pandemic, the “change your major” exit sign passed me by more times than I can count. But I went on.

   I was touring a television studio the day the world shut down, we were going to watch the 6:00 news production live. What was expected to be an average evening of news content turned quickly into tuning into Governor Whitmers emergeny address to the state of Michigan. The universities were shutting down, the COVID-19 pandemic had reached us.

   Discomfort, nervousness, but also excitement. That’s what I felt standing in that newsroom. Discomfort and nervousness for what was to come, a state of emergency, a global pandemic. But excitement to see breaking news firsthand, to see the stress and action of the newsroom. I knew that’s where I wanted to be one day, on the other side, helping people get the information they needed.

   I spent the next year working on my degree from home. Classes were mostly online. This was when I met my academic advisor and mentor, Jeffrey Kelly Lowenstein. Professor Kelly Lowenstein is an accomplished journalist, and his positive demeanor got me through those months of online academia. The pandemic was hard on us students, but signing onto class twice a week and having such a positive space to learn and connect with classmates made it better. I made some of my closest friends from Grand Valley in that virtual class. My next class with Professor Kelly Lowenstein was in person, with masks. My third and final class with him was in person and mask-free.

   I’ve been fortunate enough to have a plethora of opportunities while at Grand Valley, thanks to Professors Kelly Lowenstein, Ford, Harvey, and O’Kelly. I worked with French and Spanish students to help them conduct interviews with international journalists and then I produced videos of those interviews for Grand Valley’s Center for Civil Discourse. I was selected for a scholarship from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and was able to attend their Great Lakes Media Show. I interviewed journalists from South Africa and Ecuador on misinformation. And I spent a summer working as an intern for The Grand Haven Tribune. All of these opportunities, which helped me learn and grow even more, would not have been possible without the help and education I recieved from my professors, and I am so thankful.

   “Nevertheless, she persisted.” As a woman I often find it’s easiest to make myself smaller, quieter, meaker, in order to please. Similar to Senator Elizabeth Warren, however, I’ve made it my goal to always persist. To always question, speak up, advocate. Even when the easier choice would be to stay silent, even when the majority may not want to hear what I have to say. I hope to do so of course always for myself, but as a journalist I hope for the opportunity to do so for others. To always persist, share stories that make an impact, or help people. In the face of persecution, in the face of a pandemic or whatever may come. I will persist.

   “Hail to thee Grand Valley, we’re loyal, steadfast, true. Praise our alma mater we pledge our faith to you. Keep your banners flying, black and white and blue. We sing to thee Grand Valley. United we’re for you.”

Lastly, I want to add in a huge thank you to my parents for all of their support. They were truly my rock throughout my academic career and I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without their unwavering love and support. While I’m sad to see this chapter come to an end, I’m so excited to see what my future has in store.