Maria Hechanova was a swimmer at Northern Arizona University, an NCAA Division I program, and accustomed to swimming in pools. This race was her first open-water competition, and in her mind became a metaphor for working in the journalism industry. | Photo courtesy of Maria Hechanova
By Maria Hechanova
Voices
The average New Yorker might take the A, C or E subway trains to get from 72nd Street to 56th Street on Manhattan’s West Side. This summer, I decided to get there by swimming.
Surrounded by swimmers in bright green caps, I’m treading water and confused. I don’t know how deep the murky water is. I can barely see out of my foggy goggles. I’m scared someone might swim on top of me, or worse, kick me in the face.
The man in the kayak points towards the buoy in the distance and blows a whistle. I hear someone shout “Go!” My mind goes blank. Then, I do what I’m trained to do – put my head down and swim.
In college, I was a swimmer at Northern Arizona University, an NCAA Division I program, and I was used to swimming in pools. This race was my first open-water competition, and in my mind, it became a metaphor for working in the journalism industry. Three weeks after graduating, I left Glendale, Ariz., to participate in an AAJA fellowship with NBC’s “Today” show, a summer that has been both challenging and rewarding. I had no idea what to expect in a professional environment so far away from home. Swimming in the Hudson River, where the current can sneak up on you, brought back this anxiety.
I sprint the first couple of yards to stay ahead of the pack. Out of breath, I worry about the current pushing me in the wrong direction. I slow down to stay with the group realizing there are no lane lines to separate me from the other swimmers, no walls to hold on to, and no bottom to stand on. This was different from a pool.
As I round the buoy, my leg brushes up against the rope and I’m nervous I might get stuck. Once I break free, I set my pace and focus on the finish line. I don’t have time to be nervous about what is beneath me or to be grossed out by how slimy my skin feels. I’ve made a commitment and there is no turning back.
Reporting is like open-water swimming because every day is different. I’m not in control of the water temperature or the strength of the current, just like I’m not in control of my schedule. I have to deal with the circumstances, be flexible, adapt quickly and problem-solve on the spot.
I lift my head every couple of strokes to see where I’m going. Every time I venture off course, the race volunteers blow their whistles to grab my attention and keep me on course.
These people are like my mentors who give me feedback and guide me in the right direction.
As I near the finish line, I start to feel tired. I say to myself, “You didn’t come all the way to New York for a fellowship and to swim in the Hudson River for nothing. Come on Maria, finish strong!” My adrenaline kicks in, and I swim as fast as I can.
While at NBC, I had the chance to meet Ann Curry. She said, “Being a journalist is like being an athlete. You have to be physically and mentally tough.” Both deal with the pressure to perform. Making deadline and producing a well-written story is just as stressful as swimming fast and scoring points for the team. People are counting on you do get the job done.
As I climb up the ladder, a huge smile crosses my face and a sense of happiness, relief, and accomplishment pumped through my veins. I survived!
My race in the Hudson River was 1.5 kilometers, just under a mile. I placed 14th overall and first in the women’s 20-29 age group.
Through this experience, I also discovered how it felt to be on the other side of an interview. KNXV-TV ABC 15 News in Phoenix ran a Web story about my swim that described it as one of the greatest challenges in my post-college career. Although the swim was challenging, it was not as difficult as finding my way professionally as a journalist.
The transformation from athlete to journalist is a journey. I’ve learned that sometimes you have to just jump and “swim,” even though you might not feel ready.
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