Cherubs reach for new heights after program

By Amy Parlapiano

After the cherub program concludes and Marissa Mumford returns to Westfield, N.J., she plans to take trapeze lessons.

“The cherub program has taught me to go for it,” she said. “When you’re interviewing someone, the worst that can happen is someone says no. The worst that can happen to me is I’ll fall off the trapeze.” 

After five weeks of writing and reporting, the 88 cherubs have made important realizations about the future and how to tackle it.

Justin Schecker, of Silver Spring, Md., started a ten-year plan.

“Step one is get into Northwestern,” he said. “I’m going to get home, do the application and send it in early decision.” 

Schecker said he realized he doesn’t want to limit himself to his passion for sports writing.

 “I want to keep my options open,” he said. “I’d like to do politics and foreign affairs.”

Mumford has also expanded her options.

“The program inspired me to look into broadcast (journalism),” she said. “It’s something I wouldn’t have ever even considered, but I really enjoyed it.”

Cherub Lynn Zukerman, of Piedmont, Calif., said she has learned a lot about where she wants to take her career after attending the program.

“Before I came, I thought maybe I wanted to major in journalism,” she said. “But when I heard about the experiences of Melissa Harris, a former cherub who covered Virginia Tech shootings, I realized I wasn’t up to confronting people like that, right after a tragedy.”

Zukerman said she may write in college, but she won’t pursue it as a career.

“I probably want to major in economics,” she said.  

Alexa Fogler, a cherub from Ohio, however, wasn’t sold on journalism before she came, but now knows it is what she wants to do.
           
“I came here and was in this atmosphere, around other people that were so dedicated, and I realized I really want to go into the field,” she said.
           
Fogler said the lecture from Evan Smith, the editor of Texas Monthly Magazine, inspired her to go into magazine journalism. 
           
Schecker, who said he hopes to be an anchor or producer for either ESPN or NBC Nightly News, understands the sacrifices that come with achieving his goals.
           
 “I’ll take the crap jobs,” he said.  “I’ll do the fact-checking. I’ll do whatever it takes to get there.”
           
Fogler also knows she can’t expect to get a job wherever she wants immediately.
           
“I’ll go anywhere that gives me a job,” she said. “I don’t think I’m quite allowed to be picky yet.”
           
But she has gained a stronger sense of confidence.
           
“I feel like everyone who’s anyone has been a cherub,” Fogler said. “I can do what they’ve been capable of. We did the same program.”

But the cherubs look into the future with the idea of always getting back on the trapeze.

“The cherub program has helped break down that fear of rejection and the unknown,” Mumford said. “I might fall off the trapeze. But there are cushions at the bottom.”