JJ’s 15 Minutes of Fame
SVUDL student and Summit Everest High School senior Julian “JJ” Christensen recently had his 15 minutes of fame. KRON’s Live! In the Bay is the Bay Area's newest lifestyle show, and features local news, people, and places. The show is designed for conversations about community impact and content as diverse as the Bay Area itself. KRON covers an area that spans 12 counties with a diverse population. This totals 1,000,000 Greater Bay Area households a week!
This didn’t phase JJ one bit. A SVUDL veteran as a senior, he was ready to utilize his voice -- literally and figuratively – and most notably, the voice he’d honed through Speech and Debate. Our organizational mission is to unlock the power of the voices of youth to become advocates for themselves, their futures, and their communities.
How did JJ feel about the experience? “The interview was very fun. The host, Olivia Morton, was incredibly helpful in making me feel comfortable and at home on camera. She also asked very insightful questions about what I did and why I was there,” recalled JJ.
Was he nervous? “Thanks to SVUDL I am comfortable speaking in public. Even though I was nervous, I had no doubt I would do fine. I thought I would be solidly okay on TV,” said JJ.“That said, right before going on, I was incredibly nervous. Coach Kwodwo can attest, my nerves were rattling and I had a lot of adrenaline,” remembered JJ.
What did it feel like while being on live TV knowing so many were watching and there is no way to have a redo? “During the interview I settled into a very comfortable rhythm. It was the same rhythm I feel during tournaments,” emphasized JJ.
How did he feel after? Did he watch himself on the recording? “According to everyone around me, I did great, and honestly looking back at my own footage I did better than I anticipated. Afterwards, I was very tired. There was a big crash when the adrenaline wore off. I think the questions were all very good. She asked insightful questions that let me talk about what I thought. I am surprised about how well I feel about my answers,” reflected JJ. “The set was really nice, much bigger than I actually thought it was going to be. The host Olivia was super sweet and helpful, and the crew behind the scenes were all very nice.”
JJ’s career goal is to become a journalist. “I think I could do all three journalist roles – print, radio and TV. They're equally important and I respect them all. I think it would be a dream to try all three types at some point,” said JJ.
SVUDL applauds JJ’s bravery and success in tackling live TV. We are proud of his grace and composure under such pressure.
We look forward to seeing where his journalism career takes him. First stop – Portland State University this fall for his freshman year.
