StoryCorps Interview Reflection: Tracy Knofczynski

-
By Elle Knofczynski
My mom Tracy Knofczynski, pictured in her favorite spot to be: on the water.
Photo by Elle Knofczynski

For my interview, I talked with my mother, Tracy Knofczynski. Overall, the interview went really smooth. My mom has always been my best friend and it is not unusual for us to dive into deep topics, so it was relatively easy to talk without discomfort. However, this was a bit different than most of our conversations since we do not typically discuss her past or how it was like for her growing up. I think it can be hard for her to reflect upon how difficult it was for her as a teenager and young adult.

I think doing this type of interview helped me understand that an interview does not have to be a direct Q&A where the subject can only answer the questions posed. It was nice to see that an interview can truly be more of a free-flowing conversation; an interview does not necessarily mean it has to be formal.

It was especially interesting doing this interview with my mom since I feel like I know her so well. I think this process prompted me to ask her questions that I did not think I would already know the answer to or to ask about parts of her life that she has not really shared with me before.

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 18, 2019 at 2:26 PM

    Really cool you got to talk about topics you don't normally talk about.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2020 at 8:28 AM

    Even though you're already close with your mom, it's nice that your interview sparked a new kind of conversation between the two of you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2020 at 8:31 AM

    I like that your reflection described your relationship with your mom and how it impacted the interview

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Profile: Emilie Kono and Kelly Ryu

-
Image
Guest post by rising sophomore Sandra Thein, photos courtesy of Kelly Ryu and Emilie Kono I love those college YouTube videos: “2018 COLLEGE DECISION REACTIONS - IVY LEAGUE AND MORE!” The enthusiasm and gratitude the applicants radiate upon hearing where they will be spending the next four years of their lives is inspiring and motivating for a high school student like me.  I'm also inspired by students closer to home. Graduating senior Emilie Kono is a student athlete with a love for science and music. "Bo th in and outside of school," says Kono, "my family, friends, coaches, teachers and mentors have all been incredibly supportive in pushing me to reach my full potential; I can’t thank them enough! I knew that I wanted to be at an academically high achieving school and Stanford was an excellent choice. Between the incredible professors, facilities and some of the brightest students in the nation, I knew that I would be lucky to join them.” The only
Read more

Photojournalism

-
Image
By Faith Pauken, www.cardinaltimes.org staff member All photos by Faith Pauken Photojournalism is a form of journalism that provides images to aid in the telling of a story or news. Pictures contribute to the overall perception one may have about an article. By giving the reader a visual, they’re able to imagine what the event looked like, whether that’s showing what 100,000 people look like during a protest, or the face of an artist. During my journey through photography over the last year, I’ve been able to expand my knowledge on what makes a good photo, how to track people down and how to manage unexpected obstacles. Football/Sports Photography My personal favorite event to photograph for the last two years has been football. The fall sports season is packed with events having football easily be the most popular event on a Friday evening which makes it an important event to capture. If someone misses one game they feel like they missed out; this is where my job
Read more

Frankie Lopez Profile

-
Image
Frankie Lopez Profile By: Alexander Rozas When you picture a star soccer player’s life, you might imagine them attractive, popular and smart. However, soccer star Francisco Lopez was depressed, bullied and during his professional career was riddled with sports anxiety. Now he helps kids who are going through the same mental problems he did. Lopez remembers that the peak of his soccer career was in his senior year of high school where McMinnville High School made the finals. “Before that, not many people came to the games, but during the finals over 4,000 people came to support the team,” said Lopez. The game ended with McMinnville beating the powerhouse Jesuit 8-7 in a penalty shootout. It was a dream come true. “Winning the State Championship was the best feeling of my life and I haven’t been able to replicate that feeling or experience,” said Lopez. “It really brought the community together.” Lopez ended up bringing the trophy home with him and slept with
Read more