Feature Article

Education expert, Kristen Nieslawski, on keeping focused to win the prize

This is an in depth look at a student who has conquered many obstacles to obtain what is most valuable to her. Kristen Nieslawski, a 22 year student at Benedictine University opens up about her childhood and what led her to be a devout student. Shockingly, Nieslawski talks about how broken she was due to a disease that causes blindness. Glaucoma is something she has had to live with since she was five months old. Only one eye works.

Nieslawski also talks about family issues growing up and how she did not allow them to affect her studies. When asked about the role of an expert, Nieslawski’s responsed, “I see myself as someone who cares.  I am taking the knowledge I have and motivating others to continue with their education.  We will all win this way.” As you encounter Nieslawski’s story, please keep an open mind and let her story be inspiring to you as you journey down the road of education.

How did you enter this world? Broken…when I was five months old, the doctors discovered I had Glaucoma, which is a disease that causes blindness. Only one eye worked.  I have had to wear corrective lenses since I was nine months old.

What is it like to have only one eye?  Because I haven’t known anything different, this is normal to me. It is just like someone who is born with one arm or leg; it’s all they have ever known.

What other obstacles have you had? When I was a toddler, my parents got a divorce. Because my mother was sent overseas for the war in Desert Storm, I lived with my dad in Wisconsin.  When she returned, I moved to Illinois.  There were many conflicts with the step parents as both of my parents remarried and had other children.

How did you feel?  I became bitter.  I was the only child for nine years.  Now, I had to share my life with a sister and two brothers.  I decided early on that bitterness only hurts me.  So, I chose to focus my attention on education.

When did you realize education was important?  At an early age, I learned that education was important.  Although I spent time with friends, I made my school work a priority.  I wasn’t perfect, but I made a promise to myself to make wise choices so that I could get to college.

The dictionary defines expert as displaying skill or knowledge derived from training or experience.  Do you think you fall in this category?  I think if you ask a scholar, I am probably not an expert because I am so young.  But, if you ask my fellow schoolmates, I am.  I have acquired knowledge both from training and experience.  The dictionary doesn’t give a timeframe to acquire these things.

Why do other students refer to you as the “Education Expert?”  I suppose it is because that is all I talk about.  I believe education is an opportunity in this country.  If you spend more time with me, it won’t be too long before I am grilling you about your education and future plans.  You see…I believe education plays a significant role in everything that we do.  It gives us knowledge.  It opens doors to success; it helps us to understand each other.  Education moves us from what we are to what we want to be.

How do you see yourself in this role as an expert?

I see myself as someone who cares.  I am taking the knowledge I have and motivating others to continue with their education.  We will all win this way.

How do you motivate others?  In my spare time, I tutor students in a range of subjects.  I also spend time with students who feel like they can’t do it anymore.  I am sometimes a counselor.  I encourage them to keep going.  I become their support.

Do students usually listen to what you have to say?  Yes.  They listen and they act on the action plan we set.  Although I have not actually kept track, I would say 95% of the students I speak or tutor continue with their education.

What types of students seek out your expertise?  I have spoken with many students from various backgrounds.  There are those who seem to have it all together but are in the midst of a breakdown.  Then there are others who are barely hanging on due to financial need or no family support.

How does that make you feel?  I run through two main emotions: sadness and joy.  It saddens me to see that those we call real experts don’t take the time to be supportive when students need it the most.  It also gives me great joy to be that support, to see the hope return to their faces, and to know I have made a difference.

What should high school students do to prepare for college?  The most important thing they need to do is change their view of education.  It shouldn’t be a thorn in their side that is putting a damper on their social life.  It should be a step towards success.

What is your philosophy behind education?  I believe knowledge is power.  Accumulated knowledge leads to wisdom, which is the ability to discern.  Wisdom can be applied to attitudes, beliefs, and actions.  I believe wisdom should be sought after more than riches.  Riches fade away; wisdom will be with you forever.

Did you reach your goals?  I graduated in 2007 and went to Peoria for my freshman year of college. Needless to say, I found my way back home where I attended Lincoln Land Community College and graduated with my Associate’s degree.  I was super excited. It was absolutely satisfying to know that I had finished two years of my undergraduate program.

A bout of independence.  I moved out after graduation and gained independence. Family members said I was an expert in education.  Although I did not see myself as an expert, I knew I had motivated them.  I felt like I added value to their lives.  But, I am not finished.  Experts must continue their education, and that’s what I plan on doing.

What happens next?  I have had my trouble days, but I have also had days where I feel like life couldn’t get any better.  I am now attending Benedictine University and working hard to get my Bachelor’s Degree.

What about your future?  I have a dream to move to the East coast and pursue a career in New York. On my journey, I plan to continue being a support to all those who need it and seek after it.  I will win the prize. Everyone will know that past circumstances do not have to dictate future success.  Education has been my saving grace, expert or not.

Kristen has come a long way and will be graduating in May of 2012. Good Luck to her!

--Kristin Jordan

Query:Comm 337

Doc Ellertsen

Benedictine University Communications Professor

Springfield, Illinois

Dear Doc --

Attached is a 1,000 word article for your consideration for publication in Benedictine University’s Informing Today, Transforming Tomorrow future student recruitment materials. The article is about a student that is attending Benedictine University.  It takes you through her trails and her accomplishments. This is a powerful article with a “can do” mentality.

Kristen Nieslawski is a role model for student’s at all different levels. When asked about her philosophy behind education, her response was enlightening. As stated in the article, she believes knowledge is power, and accumulated knowledge leads to wisdom.  She strongly believes that wisdom, which is the ability to discern, moves you into a place of continued opportunity.  Wisdom can be applied to attitudes, beliefs, and actions and should be sought after more than riches.  Her reasoning is that riches fade away, but wisdom will be with you forever.

This article sets the tone for recruiters to engage students in the furtherance of their education. It also gives readers a glimpse of the life of a young student searching for what life has to bring and successfully reaching the goals she has set. Nieslawski will graduate in May of 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and will continue to pursue her education through work experience and a graduate degree program.

Some thoughts on photographs to follow...

Opinion Paper: Comm 337

Basing your opinions on the facts is the most significant piece of advice taken from this story. Mary Schmich did an awesome job collecting tons of facts to create an angle for this dramatic and heartbreaking story. The article clearly states her opinion in the last statement.  Schmich says, “But what happened to the Harrises should not have happened, not this way. To banish a family from its longtime home, so abruptly, without mercy and without help and with no proof of great crime, is simply wrong. It divides a divided city even more. Chicago is better than that.” Although a proper journalist is not supposed to mix feelings with work, I think this works well. She plainly incorporated her opinion in the last couple of sentences yet it was not openly reflected throughout the article.

This is a very interesting article choice. This entire situation is absurd. The article is extremely well written and captures real life moments from Mr. Harris and his family. As I began to read the article, the tone was set once I read the statement “Mr. Harris, standing in the middle of the house that he bought 41 years ago, that has lodged his large family through the neighborhood's gentrification, kept thinking: All you had to do was knock.” Forty cops showed up, barged in with guns and smoke bombs, and destroyed the house because of accusations from neighbors who just wanted to buy the land their house set upon. In the article, Mr. Harris stated, “Houses weren't just real estate. They were homes.” He was talking about the past when he and his family moved in some 40 years ago. You could feel the heartache through the written word.

Schmich collected a quote regarding the incident.  It stated, “This is an excellent example of the police and citizens working together." This statement implies that the working together was positive.  Well, I’m not quite sure that the gathering of 40 cops to destroy a house with smoke bombs without evidence can be described as a positive act of citizens working together.  I believe it was a waste of state money to “attack” citizens solely based on a rumor from dreadful neighbors. And, the article confirms that there was no evidence to support the neighbors’ accusations. The article specifically states, “No drugs, No guns, No dog fighting.”

As Schmich pieces together this story fact by fact, she discovers that not all neighbors believed this nonsense as truth.  Wendi Taylor Nations, one of the neighbors, says, "I've petted a couple of those pit bulls, who is active in animal-rescue causes and whose front window looks out on the tot lot and the Harris homes. I've never seen abuse, had there been, I would have been ahead of the police. We're just heartbroken for them." Another neighbor, Chris Swindells, states, "They're good people, I'm just so sad."  I’d like to know why an investigation didn’t take place before the police took action.  It is sad to me as well.

Fortunately, the mentality in Chicago is changing. The article depicts the stages of change.  It states, “What you've got is a different way of life, an old Southern way, or the old South Side of Chicago way. Now it's surrounded by the new way of life. It's a real collision of cultures." The unfortunate part is that families like Mr. Harris’ have to deal with the humiliation until the government morphs into a better organization. The article says it well, “no amount of money will erase the humiliation they went through.” Forcing a family out of their home is just absurd! They should have the right to stay and not be pressured by their awful neighbors and useless government. As Schmich said before, “Chicago is better than that!” Mr. Harris humbly revealed, “Sometimes, you just have to move on.” He is a very wise, 80 old man who has been treated with utter disrespect!

In Tim Harrower’s tips on how to write an editorial, he gives seven tips that work.  Keep it tight, keep it relevant, take a stand, attack issues and not personalities, don’t be a bully, control your anger, and write a strong lead with a solid finish. Schmich followed these ideas in a way. She kept it “tight.” While the article was a tad long, it was right to the point with short quick paragraphs. It was very relevant to the Chicago area. She defiantly took a stand by reporting this article and giving her opinion tagged to the end. Issues were discussed and personalities were displayed for characteristics; however, they were not attacked. Schmich was in no way being a bully in any ounce of what she wrote. She controlled her anger; she set her personal feelings aside and told a story based on researched facts. She wrote a strong lead and finished solid with her opinion.

            Don Murray is an inventive writer. I believe he would categorize Schmich’s writing as a form of craftsmanship. She put together an epic story using real facts and characters that defined her finished piece.  She followed each step in making sure her piece was successfully stitched together for the final outcome. Schmich used a different angle with this story as she unfolded four different sides of the story. She started with the Harris family, preceded to how the neighbors responded, entered into the police point of view, and finally, ended with her own opinion. There, definitely, was an issue that was handled in a wrong manner. When articles like these are published, it helps the public to see how the government is addressing issues.  It also allows the public to work towards changing policies for the better.  In addition, it gives the organization with the issue to take a look into their business practices and decide whether or not revisions need to be made.  In this case, the police department was the guilty party.  To diminish public humiliation, they can choose to take a look at their investigative practices and make a conscience decision to change for the better.  Once revisions are in place, they can publish another article informing the city of the changes in hopes of rebuilding their reputation.  All parties involved would benefit from the publication of Schmich’s article.  In a perfect world, all parties would agree that the publication is a benefit.

Germany: Euro

Germany: Grappling with the Euro, and with Its Own Complicated History

The mayor talked to various people concerned with the failure of the euro in order to get the story. This involved individuals with higher titles, as well as people from the local city that are considered everyday business people. The information seemed to vary, as the mayor approached different people. Some people suggested that Germany needed to focus on the future and forget the past. While others stated the past is just as important as the future. This is a tough call from both positions.

This article helped to update those using or interested in the euro about what was going on.  It gave insight on what could happen and what might not happen. This article made everyone aware of the current situation in the global market of the euro. Since it will be affecting the United States, it was nice to be informed on what will be happening. It appeared that the mayor had spent a long time preparing for this article. She interviewed over seven different high ranking officials and other business owners. This had to have taken awhile with apparent scheduling conflicts.

In the article, there is a reference to World War II comparing the crisis we went through to the crisis we are going to have with the euro. It was a very powerful statement. If this is accurate, then action needs to be taken. Those words may have an immediate reaction once the realization of what is happening becomes a reality. This reaction is shown by Jürgen Stark, Germany's top representative at the bank, as he resigned due to fear. The Chancellor of Germany Angela stated, "The euro is much, much more than a currency. The euro is the guarantee of a united Europe. If the euro fails, then Europe fails." Germany is currently faced with making huge decisions that could potentially hurt their nation along with many others.

Germany has not been given much choice with decisions concerning the euro.  They are currently sitting at a 7 % unemployment rate. Economic growth is and has been at a standstill while accruing government debt.  The article stated, “Parliament will vote on expanding the bailout fund, raising Germany's contribution from $168 billion to $287 billion, almost half the total.” That is an enormous jump for this already suffering nation. It is important to readers that they are receiving accurate information. Since the mayor had people of interest in this article, it made it so much more believable. The opinions of the people in the banking and government industries are the exact opinions the mayor needed to write this article. The mayor had a well rounded voice concerning this article through her interviewees.

The mayor also chose to select a curtain opinioned businesses owner. Uli states, "I'm fed up with working hard so the Greeks can sit in cafes and drink coffee with brandy all day." The common attitude Germans have toward Greeks is not good. The general assumption is that Greeks are party people that spend money and do not pay back the Germans make on a regular basis. This was also a common theme in the article. Seeing both aspects of workers is a plus. It makes the article more dynamic. This makes it a two sided story, as opposed to just a governmental view of the economic crisis at hand.

This story is a combination of soft and hard news. The economic crisis of the euro is extremely important, but it is not breaking news. I believe if you are affected by the euro, then you should know what is going on with it and how you will be affected directly. As a citizen, it is your responsibility to be aware of the situation. The mayor is writing this article for awareness and out of concern.  I believe she is very factual and can be considered objective. The mayor expresses her opinions throughout the entire article that is backed by opinions of others and the facts concerning the euro’s behavior. She comes across as worried and yet her opinion is stated very professional.

In our books, Murray describes the craft of a writer. He states that being a good reporter is being able to catch the unspoken elements that make a good story.  This can be considered the “craft.” I believe the craft in reporting is taking the logistics of a story and creating an angle that has yet to be done and writing an awesome article. Writers create art through their words by telling a story. A craft is an activity to create something from various pieces, but art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. In my career, my ambition is to be creative.  I feel that is the key to an great writer. There are tons of Communications Majors these days.  Employers are looking for the ones with the creative edge. The craft of reporting and writing go hand in hand. I believe Murray suggests looking outside of the box and being creative in both areas. I completely agree.

Blogs..

I have never been into blogs. However I enjoy social media outlets such as facebook, twitter, pinterest, instagram, and various sites that give quick short information. I never really blogged because it takes time and I just usually do not have any. I started blogging for classes in 2010, when I started at Benedictine. Since I am not really into blogging it took me awhile to find a blog I liked. I found a great blog! http://thebloggess.com/about/

This blog is basically a woman that posts about her life in a funny way. One particular blog made me and my friends laugh until we cried. This story about learning to pick your battles can sum up my personality in a nut shell. http://thebloggess.com/2011/06/and-thats-why-you-should-learn-to-pick-your-battles/This is the amazing story that is very similar to my life.

This is the bloggess’ quick review of who she is and what she does. I really enjoy her blog. It’s real funny. “I write for Good Mom/Bad Mom on the Houston Chronicle, but I needed an uncensored space to say the f-word and talk about ninjas so I started this blog.  If you know me in real life you might not want to be here.  I also write a satirical sex column, a parenting column that will make you wish you’d decided to just stick with dogs and I twitter a lot.  Also, I can balance live cats on my head but no one will pay me for it. I have a book coming out in 2012. I assure you, no one is more surprised about this than me.Victor is my husband.  Hailey is my seven-year-old.   Posey, Rolly and Ferris Mewler are my cats.  Pluto is a planet, in spite of what you may have heard.”

Surprise

“The best writer’s seek surprise, delight in what they do not expect to find. They come to the story with focus, an expectation, but they treasure the contradiction, the traitor fact, the quotation that goes against the grain, the unexpected that reveals” Murray. Tension of a story is “reporting for surprise.” The surprise is very important. The surprise alone sets the tone of the piece, making the piece stand out among the crowd.

Surprise does not have one definition, but it is the portion of the story that keeps the reader’s interest. Murray does not directly define surprise in the literature; however, he gives tips on how to obtain various stories with a level of surprise. Murray starts with the writer’s ten senses. The senses help the writer perfect a master piece by answering a few questions. The questions being answered are “what it is, what it isn’t, what should it be, what’s going on, and what does it mean.” The ten senses are as follows: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, change, effect, conflict, context, and self.

The senses can somewhat be commonsense. However, some of the senses have a deeper meaning to Murray. For instance, sight is simply a gesture, reaction, or expression that is or is not happening.  Change refers to the indefinite change that occurs in our society. Reporters are to catch the change before, during, and after to grasp the effects from the change if any.  Context must have detail and significance. Readers need to feel like they are in the situation. Background description allows readers to place themselves into the story.  Self refers to personality.  As a reporter and writer, self must be set at an objective point of view while reporting accurately with the truth. Self can be challenging when feelings and thoughts of a personal nature are molded into a suitable attitude.

Murray also suggests readers always have questions. These questions must be answered by the writer throughout the story every time a story is written. A reader should never feel that a question has been unanswered.  Murray advises students to answer questions a reader would ask in the order the reader would ask them. In the text, Murray uses an example of the reader’s questions in regard to a school add on. The questions to keep in mind for this particular story are: What does it cost? Where is the money coming from? Why is the addition needed? How will it help the students and teachers? and Is there a temporary alternative resolution that is less costly?

I believe Murray’s direction toward surprise stems from the idea that “The reader’s appetite for fresh stories is never satisfied and as soon as you get an idea it is used up.” Reporters must be able to see what is new. There are so many stories about the same things. These days, reporters have to be able to take a generic story that everyone runs and discover a new light for it to be shown. It is the reporter’s responsibility to give the readers what they are looking for.  Every story can be exciting and interesting.  The report needs to find the right angle and run with it, keeping in mind the creative nature of writing and the audience.

This can be very tricky to do while keeping it accurate and professional.  The writer must add personal feelings and thoughts along with an element of surprise that will draw more readers. Again, Murray has supplied us with ideas to help bring the surprise out. He recommends some good learning tools such as: brainstorming, mapping, changing your point of view, pursuing a new interest, keeping a notebook, composting, role-playing, reading magazines, looking for the authorities, trying another genre, reading outside personal interest, free writing, and thinking like an editor. These are just some pointers to get the writer to think about the story as a whole and choose the right moment for surprise.

Murray explains that unspoken gestures and surroundings are important.  He states, “Listen to what your hearing not what you expect to hear.” Journalists, writers, and reporters have to train themselves to listen. I think we get caught up in what we think the story should sound or look like without taking into account the little details that could add the sense of surprise. We put our feelings and thoughts into play before the story is even told. Instead, we should take the story, the truth, feelings, and details along with our professionalism and create a great story. All of these things should be considered not just the story.

In order to find the surprise in old stories, you have to pursue a new interest and maybe change the point of view. Some ways to do this can be change the angel, focus on a single person, and look at the historical, social, and/or political perspective. It is very important to remember background not foreground.  I have focused on ways to report for surprise, but how then do we find the tension associated to the surprise? Murray also gives us examples on how to focus on the tension. The writer must focus on the elements in a line. Each element should be given just as importance as its counterpart.  The elements are tension, conflict, irony, energy, play, discovery, music, form, and ease.

I have learned that qualities of a good story include information, significance, focus, context, faces, form, voice, need, habit, tools, attitude, limitations, and experiment. As a writer being able to find a niche in writing that surpasses the “normal/regular” stories, Murray’s “surprise” in a story is personal to me. I have learned that this is what makes the story stand out. This gives an element of tension and helps the reader to be able to feel the words written on paper. The reader begins to imagine himself/herself in the story.  He/she begins to relate to the characters and find empathy, joy, sadness, and apprehension. This is the essence of a good writer.

Lifeblood of Journalism; Comm 337

Video from 9/11


The majority of this video was direct quotation and just a little voiceover.The direct quotes add real life to the video. The quotes add so much charcter and emotion to the video. It just takes the video to a new level. Its more personal. You can get the same effect in a print medium by adding quotes, intense pictures, and bolded captions/headers.

Comm 337

What's the difference between "hard news" and "soft news?" Give a couple of examples of each? Which would you rather write? Why? What does Surtees mean by the terms "hard lead" and "soft lead?" Which kind of *lede would you rather read?

Hard News is breaking news. Stories that are considered breaking news are happening now or have just happened. Some examples could be an election, or a fire or disaster as stated by Surtees. Soft News is more laid back. It deals with trends and does not have to be published right away. If I was a news writer I would want to write Hard News. I feel it is more important.  “A hard lead is suited for an urgent, breaking event, while a soft lead is more indirect and suited to feature writing.”I prefer to read soft leads.   

  How many different ways does Surtees say a good reporter likes to be surprised, and then surprises his reader? Do you like surprises?

None that I know of, No not really.

Surtees quotes a guy named Don Murray. Have you heard that name before? BTW, have you ordered "the little green book that never goes away" yet?

I have not heard of Don Murray before. Just did.

What did you learn from reading Surtees' tip sheet that surprised you? Why? How can you use this to help find - or fine-tune - your own voice as a writer?

I learned that different stories are written different ways for a reason. I learned there is more organization to journalism. I learned “a news writer must first be a reporter,” which I knew but never really thought about. I learned the qualities of a good story, which are information, significance, focus, context, form, faces, and voice.