Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Kevin Vera would gravitate towards cameras and mimic the speech of a broadcaster with the dream of one day pursuing a career related to his interests.  

“My mom would tell a joke that I would never stop talking. I’d go on little spiels about whatever I was thinking and was passionate about,” Vera said.  

Vera, originally from Topeka, Kansas, lived in various states throughout his childhood. But no matter where he went, his love for journalism followed. Vera’s passion would lead him to graduate from IU Bloomington in 2025 with a major in Sports Media. He reflects on how his experiences at IU have strengthened his commitment to journalism.  

During the winter of his freshman year, Vera took on the role of student broadcaster for IU’s student radio club called WIUX 99.1. From broadcasting sports games to controlling the music, he highlights how the club ignited his enjoyment towards managing a radio station. To Vera, this was his first step into the field of journalism.  

Vera recalls the hardships he endured as a rising journalist. He mentions how difficult it can be to obtain an internship in the field. He explains that this stems from the challenge journalists face to stand out. Furthermore, he shares the instances when he mishandled a broadcast and asked a subpar question during a press conference. Nevertheless, Vera has learned to overcome these setbacks, contributing to his development of a growth mindset when working in the field. 

“You’ve got to lose to learn, so you’ve got to figure your way out. You tell yourself, I’m learning. It’s normal to make mistakes. I think the way I look at it is it’s just the process,” Vera said.  

For Vera, the most important aspect about journalism is not forgetting what it is truly about: showcasing not your voice, but the voice of others. He describes this as the central purpose.  

Vera shares that his dream job is to be a broadcaster for a professional sports team. Regardless, he hopes that journalism will continue following him throughout his life and be sustained in the future.  

“I really go for it, like, die for your passion. And also, on a journalistic standpoint, just fight for the rights of journalism. Speak for the people and be able to reach an audience. I am really passionate about the identity and the body of what journalism means. So, I wouldn’t want that to go away or to lose that for the future,” Vera said.