While researching and writing my day in the life article that focused on Patrick Perry, a volunteer assistant coach for the UNC baseball team, learned a lot about reporting and covering my beat.

I first found myself worrying that I would not be able to gather enough information simply by attending a practice, which was all we could work out with our schedules. But after I went and shadowed him for those few hours and interviewed him to gather background information, I found myself having a hard time keeping my story under the limit of words prescribed by my professor. I think I managed to get a good story into the required parameters of the assignment, and I found that I had a really good time doing it.

Patrick was a very nice guy, and he was easy to get along with and observe. I am looking forward to doing another piece on the baseball team after my experience being around the players. I was worried at first that they might see me as a distraction encroaching on their playing field, but every one was very nice and even eager to give me interviews and ideas for future stories.