Finding a Voice Through Writing

Journalism takes courage and it isn't easy. Marvin Luu, a graduating literary journalism student at the University of California, Irvine is all too familiar with that. As he sits across the table and places his pencil behind his head, he stares at his notes for a moment before blurting out his next question. "Journalism isn't easy, and it doesn't get easier," Luu says half-chuckling over the idea of how awkward interviews can be.

Although, it is through this awkwardness that sparked Luu's interest in the profession. Growing up, Luu did not consider journalism as a career option. While he did have a fascination with words and writing, his goals were centered around teaching and not talking to strangers on a regular basis to tell their life stories. 

However, the career path to journalism became visible after Luu took a journalism class in high school. "I figured it would be an interesting opportunity, and it was because it led me to new things and taught me to get out of my comfort zone," Luu says.

Stagnancy was something Luu did not like to sit well with. As a sports writer for the New University -- UC Irvine's official school newspaper -- Luu stays focused on being a part of the action. The intensity and passion that goes along with each sport and its players echoes in Luu's writing. 

One of Luu's personal favorite sports to cover is basketball. He describes that the magic behind sports journalism is finding that penultimate moment, the one where silence drowns out the nuisance chatter for a single moment just before the player shoots his shot. His collection of articles on his online portfolio are sprinkled with those moments. And Luu is not the only person that is moved by that. 

As avid supporters to his writing, Luu's parents are always eager to read every new article that gets published. "It's cute because my mom would be reading my article and she would have these questions asking me what this thing means or if I could explain this other thing," Luu says. However, his interests in journalism are not always so well received by other members in his family.

"It always starts with them asking how school is going, but you know they don't care about that. They just want to know what you're up to" Luu says.

It happened last year at a family gathering.

It started with a question, which then turned into a sour lecture judging Luu and his decision to pursue journalism. He shifts a little in his seat before continuing. "He told me I was wasting my time, that there was no money in it and I wasn't going to be able to help my parents," Luu says. He admits that one of his biggest fears is leading a life where he cannot financially give back to his parents. Being cornered and handed this idea that his passion may make that fear a reality really affected Luu. No matter what he said in his defense, he felt silenced by his uncle's judgement. However, it is through this attempt to silence him that reminded Luu of the importance of speaking with a strong voice.

"When I was a kid, a teacher put me in the English Language Development program because they thought I did not know English, but it wasn't that. It was because I didn't talk much. I was just shy in school. One of my relatives had to come in and explain that to my teacher," Luu says.

Journalism enabled Luu to find his voice.

Placed in the same situation years before Luu was born, his grandfather made the conscious decision to pursue a career in journalism when he moved to the United States. In spite of all the odds against him, he decided to pursue his passion anyway.

This confidence is something Luu inherited from his grandfather. His grandfather's determination to stick with his passion cemented Luu's own pursuits towards a career in journalism, even in spite of all the odds.