What Interviewing Taught Me

Before I did my interview assignment, I didn’t realize how much communication depends on simply listening. I thought interviewing was mostly about asking good questions, but I’ve learned it’s really about paying attention to people, how they talk, what they emphasize, and even what they don’t say.

Interviewing taught me that most people are happy to share their experiences when they feel safe and respected. When I slowed down and really listened, the person I interviewed opened up more naturally. The conversation felt less like an assignment and more like a meaningful moment.

It also made me more aware of how much depth every person carries. Everyone has a story, even people we think we already know. When you ask thoughtful questions and give someone space to answer, you start to see things you never would’ve noticed.

I think interviewing made me a better writer too. It pushed me to capture someone else’s voice instead of my own, and to find the details that make a story feel alive. Overall, it helped me appreciate how human journalism really is. At the end of the day, it’s people sharing their stories with other people.