Scholar in the Fast Lane
Scholar in the Fast Lane
By: Dardinia Joseph
At first glance sophomore Broadcast Journalism Major Tiera Harris may seem quiet and reserved. Paradoxically she is a very busy and vibrant person much like her hometown Atlanta, Ga. Harris graduated at 16 years old in 2008 from Druid Hills High School.
For Harris, Atlanta was not the only contributing factor to her fast paced maturity. “All my life I had been around older people” Harris admits. As a youth she spent her 1st and 2nd grade in private school where she excelled from 2nd to 4th grade. Her only regret in that move was the lack of naptime in 4th grade. Harris admits she never felt awkward being around older peoples. Even today she typically does not identify with people her age.
Harris does not view her life as over privileged but she also does not believe in the term under privileged. A rather passionate Harris explained that “somebody somewhere is always going to be underprivileged because they don’t have all the advantages that the next guy has.”
If anything Harris parents who are hard working peoples who have helped to instill the values of hard work and morals in her. In the summer of 2009 Harris had two jobs, and internship with Fox Sports South and summer classes. Destined to be successful Harris enjoys busying herself with any and everything that she sees as being profitable in her near future. Harris brags that as a freshman attending Hampton University she had a car even though freshmen were technically not allowed to. She claims that she absolutely could not depend on someone else for transportation.
Harris grew up in a diverse community where black anchors existed on television frequently. Likewise she was drawn to a Historically Black College University and felt empowered to pursue her goal of becoming a broadcast journalist. Harris jokes that even though she can write relatively well she does not enjoy the task. She would much rather talk as she prides herself on being talkative and sociable.
Most people would believe that the fast paced lifestyle would have an adverse effect on her friendships. Harris admits she has left people behind to rise to where she is current day. However she does keep in touch with two good friends of hers, Sarah Roland and Sherrika Johnson, who she envisions in her life forever. Good friend Indeya Chavis has known Harris for two years and asserts that “her drive has motivated me to be more proactive; she is a great friend.”
While interviewing Harris I noticed her posture and well put together appearance. I asked her if she had ever been a dancer of sorts. She revealed she was the captain of the dance team all four years at her High School. “Presentation is very important” stresses Harris. She believes that as a journalist one should only present the truth be fair and unbiased because what you write helps define your career and credibility as a reporter. What makes Harris an even better reporter? Boyfriend Malachi says “she has an always-ask-why attitude; she never takes anything for face value and does her own research”.
Equipped with great ethics and proper training Harris is confident that she will make a successful journalist regardless of where her skills land her. She envisions herself working for Fox Sports South or CNN as an ideal job. But she does not mind working elsewhere to get to where she needs to go. Now she is in Honors College, Co-chair of Sophomore Executive Council’s Publication Committee and a hard working Scripps Howard School of Journalism student on her way to even higher levels of greatness.
