Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were at the Society of Professional Journalist (SPJ) MediaFest in Washington, D.C, in the fall semester of 2022.

Woodward and Bernstein were sitting on the stage talking about how they broke the Watergate scandal, and I was sitting on the ground in the middle of the aisle gazing at them in awe of their story.

Gallery • 2 Photos

Photo credit, Kaitlin Beckford

On Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Washington D.C at the Grand Hyatt hotel, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein speak at the Society of Professional Journalists MediaFest about how they broke the Watergate Scandal.

Around me were professional photographers also sitting on the ground; they all had big cameras. With my small camera, I felt out of place and was trying to figure out how to get around all these photographers. Every opportunity I got I moved closer to the front until I finally got the perfect spot. I seized the opportunity to capture these legendary reporters.

I understood that if I wanted to capture photos during this event, I had to act to achieve my goal.

Ever since my SPJ experience, I have found a new confidence to be proactive in all areas of my life.

I am grateful for being given the opportunity to attend the SPJ MediaFest and am excited to continue to implement what I learned in my future.