Taking Risks, By Lara Amshay

“Expect the unexpected” is a phrase I’ve heard many times from various teachers, mentors, and family members throughout my whole life. Recently, in pursuing the silver level in the Leadership Challenge, I have learned the importance of leaders taking risks. This revelation came into play in reflecting on my time I spent volunteering as a Media Assistant at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships this past January (2011) at the Greensboro Coliseum. As my coach Ryan pulled out a tape recorder at the beginning of our session, I narrowed my focus to the recorder and strongly gritted my teeth. “We meet again!” I slyly told the tape recorder. Like Ryan, you may be wondering why I was talking to a tape recorder. For the past two weekends, I spent a lot of time “getting to know” the tape recorder and other technological devices. I had no prior experience in using a tape recorder before that weekend and I had never touched a Nikon or a Canon Powershot before either. To give a little background, handing me an expensive camera is similar to a scared, hesitant parent giving their newly turned sweet sixteen year-old their precious car for the night. On my way to the Coliseum the first day of work for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, I had no idea what I would be doing. I was slowly approaching “The Unknown Zone” and I didn’t like it. Whenever I approach a task, I generally have an idea of how to do it or what it involves doing. With the figure skating, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be helping interview skaters, escorting the skaters to the press box, and I had feelings that I was going to fail at whatever task I was assigned. Despite these apprehensions, I zipped up my blue figure skating jacket and pulled my press pass over my head and slowly walked down to the Media Zone.

Later that weekend, when I got off from my shift, a friend of mine who was also volunteering texted me saying that my pictures were online. As I waited for my computer to boot up, I couldn’t stop smiling. For the past two days, I got to stand right off the rink and take pictures of the skaters warming up, talking to their coaches and other skaters, on the ice, and I was there the moment they got off the ice to capture their reactions. It truly was an amazing experience. I grew up going to see skaters perform such as Kristi Yamaguchi, Brain Boitano, and Michelle Kwan, but as I got older, skating wasn’t my first choice of sport to watch when Duke Basketball was on TV. Being right by the judges, I saw how disciplined the skaters were and how beautifully crafted their jumps and axels were. I felt the pressure of thousands of eyes on them as they gracefully commanded the ice. It was an honor for me to capture the sacred moments with their coaches and hugging their coaches right when they landed the jumps of their dreams. Just as the skaters took risks adding new jumps, lifts, and axels into their routines, I was taking my own risks by completing and excelling at tasks which I had never done before and had only been given little direction.

The next weekend, the final weekend of the championships, is a pretty big deal. The competition was broadcasting live on NBC and on Sunday the champions were crowned. I took a trip back to the “Unknown” once again when I met my perceived opponent, the tape recorder. I generally tried to avoid eye contact when the team leaders asked if someone wanted to record and transcribe interviews. I desired to be right off the ice again, front and center for the action, but instead I got stuck backstage with my new friend, the recorder. As soon as the skaters received their scores, a volunteer escorts them to the media mix zone where reporters from around the world are waiting to grill them on their performance. My job was to make sure the microphones were working and to be front and center to make sure my recorder picked up good sound. After the reporters were done asking questions, I was to run back to the Media room and transcribe the interviews. It was hard at first, because I was rushing myself to get everything down and to get it done correctly. After awhile, I got the hang of it and let my guard down. Things got really exciting when the top three skaters came back. Ryan Bradley, the overall champion, is one of the funniest skaters to be around. He was always smiling and making jokes, which really made me enjoy doing my job. And to top the day off, I got to touch the championship trophy before Ryan did!

I really enjoyed my time spent volunteering at the Championships. Not only did I get to work around great people, such as the whole staff of the U.S. Figure Skating Media Department and NBC Sports, but I feel I gained more skills as a journalist through my experience. I can now put on my resume that I have over twenty photographs of skaters on Ice Network’s website. I can also list the various jobs I did with helping interview, transcribing interviews, and relaying information for reporters. I now have been there and back from the “Unknown Zone” and it wasn’t bad at all! It was me, just me in those moments. No one else was there to hold my hand while I completed my tasks or tell me how to do them the right way. Ultimately, it was my call and my responsibility to trust my own strengths and abilities and to put them to the test. Yes, they were huge risks, but I’m so glad I took them!

Author:

Lara Amshay