How I Ended Up in Texas: SXSW EDU

When I helped produce a gun violence documentary last year, I had no idea that opportunity would lead me to stay in Austin, Texas, for a couple of nights. 

After Run, Hide, Fight: Growing Up Under The Gun was aired on TV, it was pitched to outside film festivals and journalism conferences around the country. Out of everyone we pitched it to, South by Southwest EDU (SXSW) decided to snag it. 

For those unfamiliar with SXSW EDU, it’s a journalism/media education conference centered around the perspective of young journalists and media educators. People from all over the country come to this conference to advocate for change in different ways. Themes like gun violence, climate change, legislation, and more were all topics of discussion at SXSW EDU. PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs tries to make an appearance every year and even though I’ve been connected with them for years now, this was my first time traveling with them. 

I remember how weird it was getting the email and being asked if I would be willing to come to Texas for the conference. I was taken aback, especially since I’ve never flown by myself before, let alone for work. I’ve also never been to Texas, and the idea of going halfway across the country by myself was definitely daunting. However, despite my fears, I agreed, and a few weeks later I was taking a Lyft to the airport. 

Getting through security at the Philadelphia International Airport was easy enough, and only slightly anxiety-inducing. When I finally made it out to the other side, I realized that I was hungry and wanted to find something to eat. Though I saw pretty quickly that airport food is overpriced, but nevertheless, bought an overpriced almond croissant from this bakery near my gate.

Once I was on the plane, I realized that sitting next to strangers on a cramped plane was just as awkward as I thought. Not only that, but take-off is equivalent to a rollercoaster ride. 

However, it gets easier as the plane ride goes on, and once you reach cruise altitude, things get a lot less bumpy. My favorite part was when they started handing out complimentary drinks and snacks, which calmed my nerves a bit. One thing I will say is that traveling by yourself is scary, but you end up okay. I think flying alone is something that could take practice, but it only gets better after your first time. 

Once I was in Austin, Texas, I had this weird epiphany that I was in a whole different part of the country that I did not recognize at all. It was weird but in an interesting way. I was fascinated by the difference between Philadelphia and Austin, both cities but entirely different. Philly is large and bold, and Austin is compact but vibrant. It was great getting out of my element, and I enjoyed the experience of traveling despite the downsides. Though I’d like to talk about how the conference itself went. 

The conference was filled with beautiful and intelligent changemakers from all walks of life. People from all over the U.S. came out, and the positive energy within that building was utterly invigorating. 

After getting signed in and making my way to the ballroom where my documentary was being screened, I had to stop in my tracks. The stage they set up for us was massive, and the number of chairs set up was way more than I was expecting. We were then greeted by the manager in charge of the lighting and audio, and they gave us a rundown of the show and how things were going to go.

We were there for an hour, and all of it happened so fast. First, the documentary was screened, and then afterward there was an on-stage Q&A portion. While the documentary was screened, I was behind the scenes watching everything from a green room. This means the documentary screen was double-sided, and I could watch the documentary from behind the stage. I’ve never been in a green room, and this made me feel like a rockstar. I was beyond happy to even be there. 

The Q&A portion was amazing! In fact, it was probably my favorite part. We got some good thought-provoking questions, and I got to have this larger discussion with other like-minded people on how to best enact change. I met some people who blew my mind with how smart they were, and I met other young creators who are doing great things in the world. I am grateful for this opportunity, and it only further instilled that this is the kind of work I hope to do with my life. 

After the Q&A, I’m headed back to the airport. It was a whirlwind, and I wasn’t in Texas any longer than I was assigned to be. It was hectic, inspiring, anxiety-filled, and utterly fruitful. The life of a traveling journalist may not be so bad after all, and I could see myself doing this again. The only question is, when?