𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗠𝘆 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 (𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟵): H. Scott Miller and Jordan Smith:

I wanted to go to Penn 🔴🔵 my entire middle school and high school career. But if I'm being honest? I had no idea what I'd do once I got there.

Freshman year, while friends rushing fraternities. I didn't feel the pull. I wasn't sure where I fit.I tried a few things, but with my passion for sports and writing, I was intrigued by posters for an open house to meet The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc.'s sports staff, the independent and highly-acclaimed student newspaper.

I had no journalism experience, but it wouldn't have mattered. Freshmen are assigned to lower profile sports: men's and women's fencing, women's softball and men's baseball as an inexperienced freshman. You earn your way up.

My first editors couldn't have been more different from each other. Scott Miller was outgoing and gregarious. Jordan Smith was focused and no-nonsense.

Together they were a perfect pair. They gave me frameworks AND independence. They nurtured skills without suffocating them. They challenged me to get better. And they ran the best sports section (DPOSTM) of the best college newspaper in the country.

(And introduced me to the best broasted chicken wings in southern New Hampshire.)

I found my voice in that back corner room.

Over the next three years, I became a real writer. Built real journalist skills. Covered college football and basketball. The Olympics. The Penn Relays. The NCAA Tournament. While other friends went deeper into Greek life and academics and study abroad, I built an anchored identity around a group of fellow sportswriters who felt the same way I did.

It wasn't what I planned. It was better. Scott and Jordan didn't just edit my copy. They helped me figure out who I was. That's what great mentors do.