The best decision I didn’t make
I didn’t get what I wanted. That’s exactly what I needed.
Sometimes we think we know what’s best for ourselves — that we can do it alone.
I used to think that. Then I met Mr. Block.
I owe a lot to this man, my high school english teacher.
In high school, I loved math and science and saw myself as a STEM student. At the same time, Mr. Block enjoyed my writing for class and encouraged me to join the school newspaper he advised.
I needed another extracurricular and I liked to write, so I went for it.
To my surprise, I got into it more than expected. I had a good time learning about the different types of journalistic writing and meeting the students on staff. I also realized I loved to write columns.
My first published column was on Super Bowl commercials, and I was hooked. With one article I started to see my name on the masthead:
Alyssa Duetsch: Columnist.
I look back at the article and laugh, partly because I had no idea what was coming.
When it came time to get a position on the paper, I applied to be a columnist. I was so ready to step into the role where I thought I’d be the perfect fit.
And then, Mr. Block announced the roles to the staff.
Alyssa Duetsch: Video editor.
What?
That was not at all what I was expecting to hear.
I was shocked and upset. The enthusiasm I had for student media suddenly disappeared. In the past, I had made one video — and I hated the experience. So I reluctantly stepped into my new role, but I didn’t accept it.
But Mr. Block was patient. He sat me down for a conversation.
He explained to me that he thought I could do great things as a video editor. He thought this was where I belonged.
He saw potential in me in this medium I didn’t know I had.
This was the best decision that I didn’t make.
She sat in her living room in front of my camera.
“I threw the penny over my shoulder,” she said. “I wished that my auntie stays alive.”
My assignment was to make a short documentary about two girls who lost relatives due to ALS. Lily, the girl quoted above, is one of the many people affected by ALS and the first person I interviewed for my high school newspaper.
“5 minutes later,” Lily continued, “we got the call saying she passed.”
Lily was the first of many I interviewed and filmed so many students to help tell their story. It was also during the time that the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge took over Facebook, and I saw the power of video to spread a message of awareness — to make a difference.
Lilly, along with Mr. Block, are two of the reasons I am pursuing my passion.
Throughout high school, I made videos on a freestyle dancer, a band made up of friends, a competitive horse rider, car lovers, and more. Each one of those people helped me realize that my passion lies in storytelling.
I also went on multiple service trips. I went to both Detroit and Milwaukee for a week to help those in need in the community. One of the most memorable moments was volunteering at Vets Place Central in Milwaukee. We talked to veterans and heard their stories. Meeting those men changed me.
Because of these experiences, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to tell stories and I wanted to help people. But how? That is where I struggled.
Then I found Marquette. I quickly fell in love with the city, the campus, the values, and the chance to be the difference. I also learned more about the Diederich College of Comm and all of the service opportunities. It did not take much for me to realize this was where I wanted to be for four years.
When I got to Marquette, I immediately started learning how to tell stories through my classes and volunteering through the Midnight Run club. I signed up to volunteer at Vets Place Central every week. Everything came full circle.
Those veterans teach me something every time I sit down and have dinner with them.
They each have a story.
It was through volunteering and learning to tell stories that I found my true passion: helping others by telling stories for those who do not know how.
Today, I am studying PR and digital media at Marquette University.
That could mean a local organization that is helping bees and the homeless — the Beevangelists. It could mean a veteran who misses his family and turned his life around. It could mean a family who has gone through difficult times but knows there is hope to come.
Everyone has a story. Not everyone has a way to tell it.
That is why I am here.
There’s no such thing as a storybook ending. I’m still on my journey.
Truth be told, I’ve had my hard times here at Marquette — struggling with anxiety and dealing with difficult family issues.
But it always came back to storytelling. Whatever funk I find myself in, I can get myself out by creating something, by telling a story. It reminds me of my purpose.
I could never do it alone. And I don’t want to do it alone.
I used to think the greatest reward would come in something I accomplished on my own. I was wrong.
I can’t tell a story without others.
Mr. Block always told us to pursue our passion. I would not have found mine without him. I would not have understood my passion without Lily. I would not have found my love for volunteering without the veterans. I would not be pursuing my passions if it weren’t for everyone along the way — showing me an unexpected path.
Sometimes your best decisions are the ones you don’t make.
