Graduating Senior Caleb Christensen Answers Questions about His Time at BYU
Q: How have you found belonging during your time at BYU?
Christensen: In terms of belonging, I think I had an easy time feeling welcome. I was on the football team, so I always had a home away from home that I could go to. In the School of Communications, everybody— despite being from different backgrounds and circumstances— was always welcoming. For example, I had to bring my kids to class with me sometimes, and nobody ever had a problem. Everyone was always nice and caring with them, so I always felt welcomed. Everyone was willing to accept me regardless of what was going on.
Q: How has your BYU education prepared you for the future?
Christensen: My education has been good preparation for the future. The academic courses are rigorous and I have definitely felt academically challenged by my professors and courses. My classes have prepared me for the challenges of life and have taught me that the best things require hard work.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
Christensen: I've been interning with some radio shows and doing interviews to prepare for what’s to come. Really, I’m just eager to start working and taking care of my family.
Q: Which professor inspired you the most? Why?
Christensen: A professor who inspired me is Professor. Miles Romney. I met with him before joining the Journalism and Sports Media program two or three years ago when I was still majoring in exercise science, and he's always been a great mentor to me. I've only had him for one, maybe two classes but his support and belief in me has been fantastic. The classes that he teaches are amazing and really helped me find the foundations I need to be a good journalist and writer. He's a great friend and mentor.
Q: What piece of advice would you give to current students?
Christensen: The classes are challenging for a good reason and everything about BYU is worth it. The culture of this school sets you up to be able to handle hard things and experience great things.
Another piece of advice is to take the stairs. They are good for you and they keep you in shape. I think that we might have one of the most athletically fit campuses in America just because of the rigor of getting from lower campus to upper campus, but it's worth it. Take the classes, take the stairs.
Q: What was your most inspiring experience at BYU? Why?
Christensen: In my junior season of football, I was put on the scout team. On that team, you run the opponent's plays for our offense, and you're at the bottom of the barrel. It taught me that only I can always control what I do, no matter how anybody else feels about me, and I started playing football better than ever. My belief in myself helped me improve. As a result, I was at the top of my game in terms of my athletics and academics. That experience helped give me the push I needed toward the end of my career and education at BYU.
Q: Why did you choose the Journalism & Sports Media program?
Christensen: I chose sports media because I have been around athletics my entire life, and I want to be around athletes as long as I can. I knew I wouldn't be able to be an athlete forever, so I came to BYU to be a physical therapist. I thought that was my gateway to staying involved in athletics, but about two semesters into the exercise science program, I realized that wasn't what I wanted. I met with Prof. Romney and he told me about the Sports Media program and my wife was actually in the Journalism program. While I love sports, I also love to write. Writing was my best subject through high school—I wasn't really a math or science guy. So it really felt like divine intervention for me to have the Sports Media track fall in my lap.
Q: What is an unforgettable experience that you have had during your time in the Sports Media program?
Christensen: During my last season playing football, I was able to journal my way through the season because I wasn't able to cover other sporting events due to my practice schedule. It was amazing to be able to put my thoughts on the games and practices onto paper. It also helped me process a lot of things that were going on, whether it was a lack of play time, injuries or other things. It was a cool experience to be able to document what goes on behind the scenes with the football program. It gave me a lot of perspective on my career. I also interviewed my teammates who were finishing their careers and got to have some heart-to-hearts with them about playing football and what it meant to play for BYU. It was a special experience.