I was seventeen when I attended a talk with Clarissa Ward. Only two minutes into hearing about her experience working as a war zone reporter in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places, I knew I wanted to be a journalist in some capacity.

When I came to college as a pre-medical student, I had no clue how that aspiration would fit into my UCLA experience. One day, I found my answer: a stack of the newest Daily Bruin print edition in the Rieber Hall lobby.

I’m no international reporter, but during my time at the Daily Bruin, I’ve stepped out of comfort zones I didn’t know existed.

For one, I never realized how scary my first Bruin Walk sourcing interview would be. I was never previously afraid to talk to new people, often going out of my way to do so. Accordingly, I thought that I would be completely prepared for my first sourcing venture.

Unfortunately, my expectations did not align with what actually happened. The swift, confident interaction I had in mind was instead replaced by me hesitantly approaching a student on Bruin Walk, hands sweating as I asked her about the vegetarian options at the on-campus Panda Express.

Though this interview was just a training exercise, it terrified me, contrary to the extroverted nature I thought was so central to my personality. Being terrified, though, is what made me a better journalist.

If I finished that conversation with complete confidence, I never would have thought to improve my approach. I never would have approached my assistant Opinion editor for advice on sourcing, and honestly would never have appreciated the value that comes from a spontaneous interview.

It’s the student-to-student interaction that makes on-the-spot sourcing so authentic. Any slightly anxious mannerisms actually remind the interviewee that I’m no different from them. This recognition helps them see me more as a peer than an intimidating journalist.

Through the Daily Bruin, I’ve been able to find these student connections beyond just the people I interview. When I joined the editorial board my junior year, I was nervous about working with a group of individuals coming from different sectors of the paper. I had been so used to mainly spending time with Opinion staffers after all.

It was this diversity in backgrounds, though, that made the editorial board so rewarding to be a part of. During our weekly meetings, I was often introduced to pertinent issues that I had not thought much about before. This allowed me to gain helpful insight into the topic because of different members’ unique experiences.

This diversity in background and perspective is what I love most about the Daily Bruin. It’s not just a newspaper. We have journalists, artists, podcasters, photographers and most importantly – a community where everyone understands one another, even if we don’t have much in common.

I might not get scared when sourcing a piece anymore, but one thing stays with me from my early days at the Bruin: I’m so proud to be a student journalist.

Gill was an Opinion contributor and member of the editorial board.