As I take the next step in my journalism career, I will never forget the people and the place that took a chance on me as a young journalist. The Alligator was a huge part of my first two years at college. I spent every semester, including the summers, covering sports I am passionate about and improving my journalistic skills. I still remember the day my first article about the UF golf team was published, and it was a moment that I will cherish forever because it further ignited my love for storytelling. As a freshman who knew little about journalism, The Alligator welcomed me with open arms and inspired me to become a better writer.
During my second semester at The Alligator, I was a reporter under my editor, Kyle Bumpers, and assistant sports editors, Jackson Reyes and Topher Adams. Kyle always encouraged me to push myself out of my comfort zone. He told me on the phone right before my first softball game, "Don't be afraid to ask questions; you belong there." Although he didn't know it then, his advice and encouragement motivated me to write more feature stories.
Jackson and Topher became my editors in Fall of 2023, and they continued to help me flourish as a writer and truly find my voice within my stories. With their help, I gained more confidence as a journalist and what I would see for myself in a career.
While my editors uplifted and supported me, my peers also implemented much of my growth. In the spring semester of freshman year, I met one of my best friends, Krisha Sanghavi. At the time, we were the only girls on the sports desk and eager to apply our talents in the sports industry. From our first conversation, I knew she was someone I could count on not only as a friend but also as a supporter who wanted to see me accomplish my goals. As our relationship grew and we became closer through our love for sports, we were assigned the same beat covering UF volleyball once the Fall semester rolled around. In that time, we bounced ideas off each other and helped each other grow tremendously as journalists. Working together was so effortless that she pushed me to apply for the assistant sports editor position with her that spring semester of 2024. Taking on a leadership role seemed daunting initially, but we helped each other navigate our way. We ended up taking on the gymnastics beat together and would sit in the press box talking about how lucky we were to have found each other as women in the sports industry, cheering each other on rather than feeding off jealousy. Krisha is always the first person I run a story idea by and ask for advice about my career. She is the most caring, honest and respectable person.
Bennett Solomon who was the sports editor when I was the assistant sports editor guided me in taking pride within my position, but also believed in my abilities to execute my job as an editor and reporter in producing quality content.
Claire Grunewald, Jackson Castellano and Aidan Bush were my big three as assistant sports editor. They trusted me with a leadership position that taught me more about my own writing than the changes I was editing for my reporters. The big three trusted my judgment for what made a good sports story, and I will always be grateful for my time spent with such a talented group of reporters.
Finally, I thank everyone at The Alligator who has become some of my closest friends: Brandon Hernandez, Max Tucker, Ryan Friedenberg, Hailey Hurst, Max Bernstein, Jiselle Lee, Jack Meyer, Luke Adragna, Lacey Rogers and Jared Teitel.
I have always been passionate about storytelling and writing stories, but I never knew anyone who shared my love for words, like the people who make up The Alligator. Thank you for all the fun, exciting moments covering sports and for allowing me to push myself to be a credible journalist.
Alyssa Britton-Harr was a Summer 2024 Enterprise Sports reporter.
Alyssa Britton-Harr is a second-year journalism major and a sports reporter for The Alligator. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spending time with her friends.
