When I found out I was accepted to participate in the NAJA-NPR Next Generation Radio, I was incredibly excited to be surrounded by other Indigenous journalists and mentors and to learn from the talented journalists at NPR. I was quite nervous to be producing a whole story, radio segment, photos and video all within a week, but the first day was very inspiring. I knew it was going to be hard work but also a great opportunity to improve my journalistic skills.

During the first three days, I felt pretty overwhelmed. I struggled with my computer and was having a hard time downloading the necessary programs needed to edit audio and photos, leaving me a bit behind schedule. However, my mentor, Graham, was very supportive and always reassured me that we would have enough time to complete all the tasks.

My editing sessions with Phyllis, Alexis, Selena and Kevin were extremely helpful. As someone who comes from a background with very little radio and audio experience, I was thrilled to see and learn all about the inner workings of audio production and engineering.

One of my favorite moments throughout the week was my editing session with Selena where I was able to watch her engineer my audio segment. Having seen how an editor goes about making adjustments to a written piece, seeing Selena edit an audio segment was a whole different experience for me. Her instincts and talent were impeccable.

Once I was able to navigate the difficulties with my computer with the help of Selena and Kevin, I realized how much I was enjoying the week. It had been so long since I had been able to get my hands involved with all aspects of reporting a story — taking photos, filming, and recording audio. I was reminded of all the reasons why I love journalism. Overall, I am very thankful to be a part of the NPR-Next Gen Radio and want to thank you to the whole NPR team for making this opportunity possible!