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Gamecock to Peacock
by Amanda Alpert
Used with permission of The
Carolinian
Stepping into Rockefeller Center at the ripe age of 21 was
an experience that sometimes defies words.
The transition from being a Southern girl next door to a
Southern girl next door in New York City was an adventure,
to say the least. For starters, mustard-, vinegar- or ketchup-based
barbecue were replaced with plain, onion or sesame bagels
for lunch options.
Yes, going from full-time student at USC to working girl
at “Dateline NBC” — albeit for one semester — was
definitely the top of the martini glass.
Just five years ago I was walking the halls of my high school
questioning what I was going to do with my life. I had my
friends, I had my family, and I had outrageous dreams. Then
I discovered journalism.
 Finding
a connection to something in high school was so important,
and my newspaper staff was just that. I started as a reporter
and became editor in chief in two years. My three years on
staff didn’t just stop at being memorable. We published
a cover of Playboy, which featured a graduate of Dutch Fork
High School, and subsequently got mentioned on the Rush Limbaugh
radio show. We also won award after award. It was one of
my proudest moments in life when my co-editor (now fellow
USC journalism student Elizabeth Martin) and I took the paper
under our wings and developed an outlet that everyone in
the school wanted to read.
I applied to Carolina’s journalism school — something
I never would have done if not for the S.C. Scholastic Press
Association and Southern Interscholastic Press Association.
These two organizations are run through the USC School of
Journalism and Mass Communications, and they really opened
my eyes to the education I could receive at USC.
When I started my internship at “Dateline NBC,” I
realized that it was all finally real. My knowledge and education
would be challenged from here on out. As I walked into my
first day I was hesitant because I hadn’t yet taken
some key courses that probably would have prepared me better.
I soon realized that it isn’t just classroom instruction
that trains you for this, but also the evolving knowledge
that college as a whole gives you.
Working for a big-time news magazine show, you never knew
what to expect. Fortunately, everyone was incredibly patient
as I learned the ropes. When I saw my first story from start
to finish, I was shocked at the time and energy that goes
into a six-minute TV piece. It included a lot of long nights,
some cursing, and even self-doubt about whether it would
be good enough to air.
But when it comes together, the natural high you experience
is so worth the distress. That’s when the memorable
things happen. Stone Phillips and Ann Curry walk by and say, “Great
job, guys.” You can’t ask for a better compliment.
Along with my hard work at “Dateline,” working
for NBC also had it perks. I saw guests for “Saturday
Night Live” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” in
the elevator. I was part of the “SNL” run-throughs,
an extra in a Robin Williams movie and an audience member
in the new Tina Fey pilot.
Of course, the most apparent benefit was appearing on “Today.” On
one of the shows I was dressed to the nines as a model in
a Stacy London piece about wearing a suit five different
ways. I was the cover shot on msnbc.com for a couple of hours,
and Katie Couric talked with me on camera about my Sergio
Rossi shoes.
Then there were the things everyone asks about: Ann Curry
was probably the most wonderful person I have ever met professionally;
Stone Phillips was better looking in person than on TV; and
everyone on “Today” was just as perky off camera
as on, even at 5 a.m.
 I know the time I’ve spent at USC prepared me for
the experience. It has allowed me to grow, strive and learn
to communicate maturely, much like my professors have communicated
with me. I was able to perform to the best of my ability
in New York with the awareness that I hadn’t been coddled
in class for three years. As I spoke to other student interns
from other parts of the country, I learned their higher education
experiences weren’t quite so good.
As the weeks of my internship went on, I gained even more
confidence. Within a month of arriving, I was credited as
an assistant producer on the Feb. 3 show, “To Catch
a Predator 3.” Seeing my name scroll on the TV screen
was something I didn’t think would happen for many
years.
I learned not only about the journalism business, but also
about relationships that are developed in a professional
setting. My hat is off to USC for allowing me such an opportunity
and for developing the courage and aptitude to reach my goals.
Without the education and perseverance attained from this
wonderful institution, I wouldn’t be walking down Greene
Street in high heels and my arm in the air, waving for that
yellow cab to whisk me away to my future.
Click on the logo to read other internship stories:
Amanda Alpert is a senior electronic journalism
major. She
hopes to obtain a job somewhere in the broadcast journalism
field. She is involved in Carolina Productions, Student
Government, Chi Omega, Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board.
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