So the 125th anniversary of the university is now upon us, and like any big event it inevitably has big names attached to it, making it all the more memorable. Dan Rather was the guest of honor last Friday, and I was fortunate enough to not only hear his address to the university that morning in the Beto Criminal Justice Center's Killinger Auditorium, but I was also privileged enough to be chosen as one of the students who would participate in a private Q&A session with "the hardest working man in journalism" later that afternoon.
It was an interesting situation prior to Mr. Rather's arrival at his old stomping grounds. I had only recently learned that I was eligible to take part in the aforementioned Q&A session and in my excitement I began to tell my friends about it. Many of them were apathetic towards his arrival, some even annoyed that so much emphasis and attention was being paid to this man who they had preemptively deemed "boring." Whatever. I didn't care. I was getting the chance to meet one of the most respected, experienced men in my field of work.
So it's Friday morning, and there I am sitting front and center of the Killinger Auditorium, waiting for Mr. Rather (or Dan, as he requested we call him later that afternoon) to take the stage. Though extensive preparations had been made to compensate for a gross overflow of people coming to hear him speak, the auditorium was hardly filled to capacity. He arrived onstage to a lively round of applause and took the podium after a brief introduction by President Gaertner. What followed was something that made skipping both my classes that day so very worthwhile.
At the start of his talk, I was surprised. I'm not exactly sure why, but I wasn't quite expecting him to be as soft spoken as he is. He spoke on mistakes, and how essential they are to making oneself better. Mistakes are not to be frowned upon, but instead are an almost welcomed part of life and how determination and self-less ambition is the key to success. His "ten magic words" for success in life were: "If it is to be, it is up to me." He encouraged students "to dream dreams, but to find ways to accomplish those dreams and not just keep dreaming."
Reserved, humble, soft spoken, funny. This is a man who has seen it all, literally. He admittedly comes from humble beginnings and openly claims to not be "the most educated or the most talented." But he has become one of the most respected men in broadcast journalism, and is the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. He has interviewed every U.S. president since Dwight D. Eisenhower, traveled around the world, interviewed several world leaders and yet he still takes the time to acknowledge his roots. Make no mistake, this is a man who is proud to be an alumnus of Sam Houston State University. His stories about the Huntsville of yesteryear were related with an endearing fondness and he seemed to tear up at even the mention of his experiences as a student of the university. The naysayers would be wise to lend an ear to the wisdom this man has to offer, a wisdom not of book smarts but of life's experiences having forced itself on him time and time again. The gist of his talk as a whole? Don't be afraid to make mistakes and your dreams are only as good as the effort you make to accomplish them.
However, the highlight of my day came when my colleagues and I were able spend an hour with Mr. Rather and question him about what it truly takes to make it in the field of journalism. It's funny how hearing things from someone you respect resonates so much more than when, say, you read them off a motivational poster in fourth grade. He answered questions regarding bias among reporters, the importance of listening during interviews, and spoke about how he still is "trying to be a great reporter."
I was again impressed by his humility and his accessibility, as he greeted each of us with eagerness and genuine interest. His advice was pertinent ("Adequate is inadequate") and realistic ("Being a journalist is harsh on relationships".) I suppose, though, that finally meeting Mr. Rather gave me something for which I have been searching for quite some time: a role model in the field of journalism. In my mind, Dan Rather is the closest thing to a celebrity that we journalists have to look up to and aspire to be like. He has been there, done that, bought the t-shirt (even returned said t-shirt on a few occasions). That, combined with his humility and desire to constantly improve his skills as a writer, make him the ideal person for journalists to imitate.
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