I walked into Hamilton Hall for the first time in April 2023. I had been home-schooled, and I was looking for a college where I could find a community and work toward my dream of working for ESPN.

From the moment I saw WPTV, I knew William Paterson University was the right choice.

I was in awe. The control room, with its wall of monitors, looked like something out of a movie. I was mesmerized by all the buttons on the technical director’s board.

Then, Professor Al Clarke, the television studio manager, said a few things that stuck with me. I’d visited TCNJ and Montclair State, and neither offered incoming freshmen the chance to gain hands-on experience from day one. But Al said that WPTV did. He also told us that MLB Network came to the studios to interview students for internships and jobs, counting work for WPTV as real job experience.

The first time I walked into the studios, I learned how to use the camera. Within a week, I was comfortable on air and a regular member of the crew.

Al made one-on-one time for each of us. He also has more experienced students teach us about positions in the studio. For me, that peer was Alex Gonzalez. He showed me how to use the audio board, conduct mic checks, and adjust sound levels. I shadowed him for a week until Al and Alex thought I could handle it myself. My first assignment was a “SNL”-style sketch show named “The Fake News Network.” One of the actors planned to yell, and I had to make sure the levels didn’t get too loud. It was nerve-wracking, but I pushed through.

Then came the first time I operated a camera for a music performance. That involved a lot more creative freedom than I was used to. Directors yelled in my ear to switch my shot or move around more. It was stressful but exciting.

I joined “WP Sports Desk” as a freshman in the fall of 2023, appearing as on-air talent multiple times. Now, I’m a regular. I’ve worked on “WPTV Presents” and “The Caleb Washington Show.” Each project feels meaningful.

WPTV is professional, from the cameras to the control boards. The shows we produce are like what you see on mainstream TV, and working on them makes me feel part of something real. We have a full cast and crew of floor managers, camera operators, and directors.