He didn’t promise anything but his interest. Weeks passed with exchanged e-mails and phone calls.
The opportunity of an internship with a daily newspaper proved worthy of waiting for. The minor details: It was unpaid and it meant that this life-long California resident had to move to a small town in a state he had never seen before.
By reading this column, you, the daily reader, can see the internship through managing editor Mike Konz and The Kearney Hub in Kearney, Neb., paid off because that intern was me, and now I am fulfilling my dream as a sports writer.
What’s important about this experience? Many people have had quality memories of hands-on experience for a future occupation.
When Drake coach Amy Stephens and her team played the University of Oregon Monday night, memories of Nebraska fare, such as rhubarb pie and Runza (hamburger, onions and cabbage), filled my head.
Stephens, a former coach at Division II power Nebraska-Kearney, had just started coaching at Drake in 2003 when I interviewed her on her former point guard Nicole Gruntorad.
The ensuing feature I wrote resulted in one of numerous experiences I gained writing for a daily newspaper. For a recently graduated high school student, leaving in the summer of 2003 and spending six weeks in Nebraska left me with more knowledge gained than I thought possible.
If you have the chance for an internship – even if it’s small – take it.
I conformed to a dress code, worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and covered sports, news and features. The natural writer in me shuddered at taking photos, but I grew to enjoy shooting front-page art.
I would never have considered tasting rhubarb pie or Runza without Konz’s helpful nudging.
Cultural and lifestyle differences came too. I had faithfully driven my car to school each day only to switch to riding a bicycle to work.
Changes, although requiring adjustments, also came with benefits.
I witnessed and covered high school basketball at its finest in the Mr. Basketball and Miss Basketball tournaments. Top basketball talents from across the country visit Kearney every summer. The alumni list is revealing: Chicago Bulls guard Chris Duhon, Memphis Grizzlies forward Mike Miller and New York Knicks forward Channing Frye to name a few.
The player I remember most is Josh Dotzler of Creighton. He possessed extraordinary vision and found teammates with pinpoint accuracy.
I experienced many new things, including writing an article on an annual car show and visiting the Archway Monument, which commemorated the old wagon trail.
Looking back, it’s easy to forget details, but the true effect – becoming a stronger writer and gaining a willingness to try new things – lasts a lifetime.

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