It’s inevitable that someone will ask why you’re interested in something, like a hobby, a major, or a career. So, what made me want to be in media?

10 dollars. Yes, 10 dollars. 

One day, when I was seven years old, my dad gave my two brothers and me each a compact digital camera. He’d just found his interest in photography and wanted to see if the three of us would enjoy it too; $30 was on the line to see how we reacted to this foreign, majestic tool. It would become my obsession. 

That is, until the cheap battery died and little me moved on to the next big thing (Pictionary, if you were curious).  Now, with a Canon EOS 60D in hand, I do my best to tell a story with every photo I take, and that has quickly evolved to journalism as well. 

 I wasn’t Dylan with a hobby; I was Dylan on a mission to envelop myself in sports media; the medals and certificates on my wall prove it. The next few years were filled with deadlines, stories on the fly, “late nights”, and layout, being promoted from staff reporter to sports editor to editor-in-chief. 

There also was a little thing called Tiger TV. It’s not a big deal to most, but it is to me, considering I was part of the “reboot” cast. An impulsive idea between Gavin Seno and I will be entering it’s fourth year next fall, and I’m so proud of the work we’ve done. Almost every day, someone recognizes me from the show, knows my name or at least calls me “the Tiger TV guy.”  Sounds awesome, right?

You couldn’t be more wrong. 

There’s something ironically lonely about putting yourself out there. Everybody knew who I was in front of a camera, but less took the time to see who I was away from it. By being recognizable, I’d created this image of myself for show, but in doing so indirectly often ruined my chances for real human interaction. 

My best adivce would be that passion is more critical than production. For example, I can’t give up on my responsibilities to the Prowler because people may not read it. It’s not about that; it’s about putting yourself out there to the best of your abilities at all times, not making excuses and publicizing a false sense of entitlement. Hey, that’s why the IHSA calls me the best at what I do. 

In the same regard, being collaborative in a team setting will always come first, even over results. A group with good overall chemistry can create extensive benefits in the long term. 

What’s next for me is in Muncie, Ind. I’ll be at Ball State University with the Sports Link crew, one of the best sports media programs in the country. Hopefully, I’ll graduate in five years with a Masters Degree in sports media production and then move on to bigger and better things. 

There are a lot of things I’ll miss about this school, like inside jokes in the lab. From Katie with the Sand to Alex with Huey Lewis, or the staff’s obsession towards both Benson Boone and my “pink eye”.  Room 203 has been a great second home. Also, my best regards go to the Tiger TV crew; I’m so glad it was brought back, and I know the new cast will continue to keep the show awesome for years to come. 

I simply cannot finish this without thanking Mrs. Hannemann, the advisor for both the Prowler and Tiger TV. I wouldn’t be on the path I am now without her never-ending advice, wisecracks and baked goods. I may be a Cardinal in the fall, but I certainly won’t forget my time as a Tiger.