Exercise post-article.

1. Were you nervous before your interview? If so, tell us how you overcome your fear. If not, tell us the source of your confidence.

Yes. I didn’t expect to get an interview with Kyrsten Sinema so quickly. I received a response within 30 minutes of making the request. I didn’t have time to prepare questions or research her as much as I wanted to. I overcame it by breathing! And remembering first and foremost that VOF is an amazing opportunity, but I am here to share myself and other amazing women. Remembering that helped me relax and listen.

1. What did you do really well during your interview?

At first I didn’t feel like I was asking the right questions, and I didn’t add some of the things from the interview, but I learned so much by listening to her speak about empowering women, our capabilities to be/do whatever we want with the right access to resources and training, and I felt her passion about equality in Arizona. It was so refreshing to me and surreal because I didn’t know there was someone so wonderful advocating for the things I am delving more deeply into. I feel that, despite being nervous, I was also present. What I may not have felt like I did well - like not asking the right questions - ended up leading me to my favorite and most uplifting answers, so I think I trusted myself well whether I knew it or not.

1. What do you want to work on improving for next time?

I think I just want to be more comfortable. The first article was enough to make me feel a little more comfortable with everything: interviewing people, the shift in format for writing, research, preparing questions.