I originally only took this assignment because Ms. Long had been my freshman Algebra 2 teacher, and I needed to pick up a second writing assignment. That is the honest truth. But during our interview, I learned something I should have already known, that there was more to Ms. Long’s story than I thought. I found it very inspiring how strongly she cared about the cross country team despite the challenges of coaching a sport she had no experience with. This story taught me about the value of listening intently during your interviews and asking follow-ups. Ms. Long was – at the beginning – not so keen on being interviewed and having a whole story focused on herself. But once she became more comfortable, I was able to get to the heart of the compelling story she had to tell.
Recognitions: Superior – print sports feature, TAJE (2022)
