Larkin Brundige: Harbinger rekindled my passion for storytelling and to pursue journalism as a career

“What was your childhood like?”

The two of them looked at each other and laughed. I wasn’t expecting the couple to be taken aback by the question, but then again, I was 11 years old.

In sixth grade, we were asked to complete a passion project where we researched a topic of our choice before applying it to our individualized projects. At the time, my only passions were concocting slime and strumming three cords on my ukulele. 

So while my classmates began researching their future career aspirations or their favorite sport, I hit a dead end and couldn’t find a way to turn around.

My mom had gifted me a book for Christmas called “Humans of New York” that year. The author, Brandon Stanton, wandered around New York taking photos of strangers and asking 2-3 short questions. So, instead of talking about one of my passions for my project, I asked strangers about theirs.

My interviews ranged from unbothered first graders to a veteran in his 90s. I sat and listened using my iPad to record, a notebook and a pencil. I had a pit in my stomach during every interview, but I fell in love with storytelling.

I didn’t know this elementary school craft would turn into a potential career.

After working through the mess of middle school journalism, I was hesitant to continue, but The Harbinger was the gold standard. I couldn’t miss the chance to follow through with my sixth grade goal of being a journalist.

There’s a reason it has a high standard, it’s hard. Like, editing till one in the morning, bawling my eyes out over a Tate edit hard. But when I’m in an interview and someone laughs or there’s a moment of silence, I think back to my 11-year-old self.

I get the opportunity to learn about others and tell their stories. I get to listen to their embarrassing childhood memories or personal hardships. I’ve been given the ability to educate myself and others.

It’s not just a passion project anymore, I get the chance to make a difference through storytelling. I want to help people feel seen when they feel like no one is paying attention, like Harbinger has done for me.

Harbinger has made me realize that I’m not as lost as I thought I was. Now, I do know what I want to be when I grow up, and I do have a passion. 

I can’t believe sixth-grade me was right when I said I wanted to be a journalist. I bet she’s smiling with her camera and notebook right now.