How did an Army veteran serving in a special operations unit find himself in journalism school? The two disciplines are a stark contrast on the surface. But, by introducing myself and explaining my background, you might fine some commonalities between both professions. Namely, how both experiences have allowed me to do something that I believe is important and impacts others.
My name is Chase Clemens and I’ve been a graduate student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism since last August. I spent the previous four and a half years prior to that in the 2ndRanger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment as an enlisted grunt, proficient in kicking down doors, marksmanship and being a caring teammate within this unique brotherhood.
As the end of my service was approaching, I knew I needed to discover a new career path before I got too old. I was proud of the job and the challenges I experienced in that line of work butI was ready for a new type of adventure. One that would continue to put my courage to the test and aligned with my values.
Thanks to my father, I have always loved sports. And through my own curiosity, I’ve always been fascinated by the way communities of strangers are connected through their shared passion for a particular team. Regardless of a person’s geography, race or background, being a Las Vegas Raiders fan is a common denominator that an individual has with millions of others.
As I was planning on what to do with my life before separating from the Army, that’s when the light bulb went off. Pursuing a journalism career would allow me to continue serving othersthrough the power of sports.
As I writer and reporter, I can help people contextualize events surrounding their team, and ultimately help people become more informed and connected to that organization. Maybe this can even help others become a little closer to other fans, whether it’s a stranger or family member.
Over the last several months I’ve dedicated my time to growing this skill in order to one day make this goal a reality. Instead of laying in the prone position, pulling security in the middle of the night, I find myself typing away on my keyboard in empty arenas, hours after fans have filed out of the concourse. I’ve traded in my firearm and radio for a labtop and recorder, but still have many more new tools to acquire.
Professor William Rhoden’s commentary class is a new opportunity to continue my training. Through coursework and my involvement within the Cronkite student media I have some experience, but I have a long way to go in my development. My work in the program has been fact-based reporting. I have never had to use prose to express my perspective or opinion. I am hopeful that this class will help me become a more confident writer and overall communicator. This is a necessary progression I am hungry to adopt to have the impact I want to have on my current and future readers.
