As I stepped out of the library and into the windy campus mall I realized what it meant to be the last person to leave the classroom on the scavenger hunt assignment. I saw a horde of journalism students spreading out in front of me, the lucky ones already interviewing their marks.
I followed the trail of students with papers and pens in hand, barely managing to keep my own paper from flying off with the wind, as I desperately searched for someone to interview. Realizing that I would find no interviewees by following the other students, I turned around and walked to the Plex, hoping that someone would be waiting in the common room watching TV.
No such luck.
I returned to the campus mall, where I saw yet more journalism students walking around with sheets of paper at the ready. I noticed a student leave the library with a backpack slung over her shoulders and approached her, asking if she had time for a quick interview for my journalism class, which she agreed to.
Just as I began the interview, the wind picked up and I had to fight to straighten the paper enough to write down her name: Angela. I then moved on to the first and only question: a movie recommendation. I asked her to recommend me a movie, possibly her favorite one.
“A movie?” Angela asked, thinking it over for a moment before deciding on Forrest Gump.
I wrote her answer down and, having only one other task, asked if I could take a selfie with her.
She seemed somewhat surprised by this request. “A selfie?” She asked, again seeking confirmation that she had heard me correctly, and asked if I had a phone I could use for it.
I took my phone from my pocket, and after a moment of aligning it properly to get us both in the frame, took the photo. After making sure it had saved properly, I thanked her for her time and concluded the interview, returning to the classroom.