Writing a profile has been one of the most enjoyable projects I’ve done so far. I wouldn’t consider myself a writer but I do love writing about people. I think everyone has a story worth telling. So writing a profile was a great opportunity for me to interview and get to know a person I probably would never have got to known otherwise.
This process was an interesting one for me that required organisation and some give and take from both sides. It demanded cooperation and a certain amount of trust. As soon as we got speaking I realised my interviewee was nervous and didn’t want to open up very much. I had to gain his confidence and trust in order for him to share with me. This was a rewarding experience but I couldn’t help but wonder how much I could really learn from a couple of hours of knowing my interviewee. I wondered if there were details he didn’t share with me, and perhaps I with him.
Overall I had to make sure I was honest and I took special care not to jump to conclusions or make any judgments but let the person speak for himself. I think my profile was successful in portraying an aspect of my interviewee’s character but was definitely limited by the short time we spent together. I think the strongest feature of this profile is the revealing of my interviewee’s qualities in a human and real way. Its weakest are perhaps that it is short and doesn’t go enough in depth and detail into his story.
I was very inspired by reading previous class members’ interviews, especially John Marks profile. This helped me decide what sort of tone I wanted my profile to have: personal but interesting and factual. For me the most important thing in this profile was story and voice. I think I managed to convey both of these, I just hope my voice didn’t drown out his.
stefaniecookeblogcw110 
Hi Stefanie,
I too wish I had spent more time interviewing you! But I am glad you are satisfied with your profile essay. Despite our short interview I think I got to know you a lot better and I wish I had asked you more about free ride skiing!
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Hi Viet, thank you for your comment! Yes I agree I would have loved to learn more about your background too, I’m glad for the short time we had together though. We can meet up and discuss free ride skiing anytime 🙂
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Stefanie, reading your reflection makes me wonder what it would have been like to interview a completely random person and write a profile about them. I had so much background information on my interviewee that I was confident in moving deeper into the story. In addition, I also had a personal connection with him so I felt comfortable in doing so as well. It’s interesting that you note this difference in yours because you’re completely right in having the struggle of wanting to move deeper, but lacking the sources or comfort to do so.
The barriers in my piece were the opposite! I sometimes painted a too idealistic picture of my interviewee because I knew who he was and what he stood for. I had to separate my image of him with the person he really was. And in a way, the interview helped delineate that boundary.
I am sure that you made your interviewee more human and I bet you had a wonderful discovering new things about a stranger! Hearing a life story of a stranger is beautiful too!
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Thank you for your comments Ian! The comparison between your choice of profile and mine is very interesting. I think the most important thing is that in both cases we are aware of the struggle to keep our interviewees the main focus and portray them in an honest way. I am sure you managed to give a balanced profile as to who your interviewee is though. Next time we will have to do a profile of each other 😉
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