From a young age, I knew I wanted to tell other people’s stories, whether through writing, photography or social media. I believe everyone deserves a platform to share their experiences because each of us has a unique perspective that others can learn from. It wasn’t until I started writing feature stories for my high school newspaper that I realized how many valuable life lessons I could learn from taking the time to listen to others in an interview.
As I grew as a journalist and continued interviewing people in college, the lessons became more relatable. To make these lessons something I could tangibly hold onto, I started writing down meaningful quotes from my interviews on notecards. I keep some in my desk drawer, some are bookmarks, and others hang in my room.
Each serves as a reminder of something I have learned from someone else’s experience. Here are some of my favorite quotes and the lessons I’ve carried with me.
One of the first feature stories I wrote after coming to Penn State was about Rachel Casciano, a former Penn State track and field athlete who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2012, during her sophomore year in college. Casciano was forced to step away from something she loved to prioritize her health.
After undergoing surgery and treatment, she was ultimately declared cancer-free. Facing a health scare like cancer gave her an entirely new perspective on life.
“A lot of things will work out. Just enjoy the process and stop overthinking and worrying about the small things. Just try to take yourself less seriously and enjoy life.” – Rachel Casciano
And things did work out for Casciano. She fell back in love with running and remains cancer-free today. Casciano also turned her passion for running into a career and is now the Global Brand Director at Lululemon.
From Casciano’s story, I learned the importance of appreciating life and not allowing stress and worry to take away from the present moment. Her quote reminded me that not everything has to go according to plan, and that sometimes we have to trust the process.
I’ve always struggled with letting go of control and trusting that things will work out, which is why I return to this quote whenever I find myself worrying about the future or overthinking.
During my time at Penn State, I spent two years covering Penn State wrestling, which gave me the opportunity to learn from its coaching staff and athletes. Penn State Wrestling has built one of the most dominant sports dynasties, and they have a very interesting approach to achieving success. Head coach Cael Sanderson believes heavily in mindset, so most of what he teaches his athletes is centered around developing the right perspective.
Last season, Penn State’s top-ranked 125-pounder, Luke Lilledahl, was set to face Iowa’s Dean Peterson. In their previous matchup, Peterson defeated Lilledahl 4-1, handing him one of just three losses he suffered all season. When asked about the upcoming match, Lilledahl’s response reflected the mindset Sanderson instills in his athletes.
“I would say just don’t dwell too much on the last time you wrestled that guy. Just focus continuously on improving and looking forward. I feel like the more you dwell on the past, the more things don’t change.” – Luke Lilledahl
Lilledahl went on to defeat Peterson 11-5 in that rematch and twice more at the Big Ten tournament and at the National tournament. His words reinforced the importance of focusing on growth rather than dwelling on setbacks. It’s so easy to get caught up in what went wrong, but constantly looking backward can prevent us from moving forward. Real progress comes from learning from our past mistakes and using them to improve rather than allowing them to define us.
One of the privileges of covering Penn State Wrestling was the opportunity to write a feature story about wrestler Tyler Kasak. Born and raised on a farm in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Kasak developed a deep love for agriculture and decided to start his own business, selling products such as meat sticks, sauces and seasonings. Along with his business, Kasak is also a goat farmer. He raises show goats and sells their offspring to families who are hoping to enter the show goat industry.
“I just like to do things that I am passionate about, and I think that when you do things that you are passionate about, it doesn’t feel like a homework assignment. It feels like something you get to do rather than something you have to do.”- Tyler Kasak
Growing up, my parents always told me to choose a career I love, so that I never have to work a day in my life. Kasak reinforced that lesson and reminded me of the importance of finding something I am genuinely passionate about.
When you enjoy what you do, the hard work and challenges become more rewarding because you are working toward something that matters to you. I return to this quote as a reminder that building a fulfilling life means making time for the things that make you happy.
Another one of my favorite feature stories was about Cassandra Leach. Leach competed as a state finalist in the National American Miss New Jersey pageant, where she earned third runner-up and the best resume award. However, what stood out to me the most in her interview was her commitment to embracing her authentic self and inner child, which she expressed through her “Barbie Doll Dream” theme for the pageant.
“You have to stay true to yourself and your inner child. Just because you are becoming more mature doesn’t mean that you need to put what you love aside. You don’t have to conform yourself to what society thinks you should be.” – Cassandra Leach
It is easy to feel pressured to change parts of yourself to be taken more seriously, especially as you grow older and face more expectations. But Leach reminded me that growing up does not mean losing the things that make you who you are, but rather embracing them. Her story also taught me that there is value in allowing yourself to be creative and have fun, regardless of how others may perceive you.
Looking back on these stories, I realize that journalism has given me so much more than the opportunity to share other people’s experiences. It has taught me how to approach my own life with a different perspective. I started writing these quotes on notecards because I wanted a way to remember the lessons people shared with me. Now, they serve as reminders that sometimes the most meaningful part of telling someone else’s story is discovering what their experiences can teach you about your own.