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Jul 11 / Andrew Kulha

Success story: Taking a risk and going the extra mile

Andrew KulhaWhenever someone asks me how I can make a living as a sportswriter without having gone to school for writing or journalism, I always give the same answer: “Well, I became an intern for Bleacher Report.”

I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones. I get to make a profession out of something I love, which is writing and talking about sports and helping others become better at those two things.  I wouldn’t be able to say that if it weren’t for this site, and I definitely wouldn’t be able to say it if it weren’t for the B/R Sportswriting Internship.

About a year and a half ago I signed up for the internship with the hopes of making sportswriting my full-time career. I was tired of dead-end jobs and the overall lack of excitement I had in my future.

I decided to quit everything and dedicate myself to the internship process, which was a risky move at the time. I’ve come to learn that in many cases, accomplishing dreams requires risk and a great amount of boldness.

I did all my assignments and turned them all in on time—I would email even if they would be just a few minutes late—plus more. I communicated with the staff regularly, and I treated it as the most important gig of my life, because it was.

During on-call days we generally do about two to three assignments, but I did four to five. Anything I could do to stand out and work harder, I did, even if it cost me my personal life, sleep and sanity.

I believe that’s what it takes to be great at anything.

I was able to find favor with the staff and become part of a paid group of interns for a few months with the chance to move on to another contract, which I worked just as hard for and achieved. From there, I’ve worked in just about every department of the company.

I’ve been an NFL featured columnist. I do on-call writing for our trends and traffic/breaking news team, writing about anything from the NFL to the X-Games to the Puppy Bowl (yes it’s real). I’ve worked with lead writer Matt Miller on his BR1000 feature, and we have a football podcast.  I’ve been to the San Francisco offices and the Writer Meet-up in Chicago. I’ve done video work, editing, content generation and more.

What I may be most proud of though is my role with the very same internship I started my career in. Along with my many other responsibilities, I am the internship’s Community Manager.

I have the distinct privilege of working with writers who remind me a lot of myself when I started. I help teach them the ropes of being an online writer, and I help them get to know the company.

Most importantly, I like to think that I help them see that there really is hope. Their dreams are possible, and if they dedicate themselves 100 percent to Bleacher Report and our process, they can go as far as their will power and work ethic will take them.

It worked for me.

This is my life 100 percent, all the time. I’ve invested in B/R and it’s invested in me. It was the most worthwhile investment and risk that I’ve made in my life, and I’ll continue working hard to continue moving forward.

Living the dream takes a lot more work than we give it credit for, but either way—I’m living it.

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Follow Andrew Kulha on Twitter @AKonSports and check out his B/R profile

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=46403333 Scott Carasik

    Andrew, you were one of the main reasons I decided to do the internship in the first place. And without it, I wouldn’t have even made the TNT team or been challenged to write on stuff that I had never done in the first place (Horse Racing, Tennis, NBA). It’s a great experience and I would recommend it to everyone.

  • Will Tidey

    Great stuff Andrew, an inspiring read for everyone involved at B/R.

  • Miller

    Further proof that hard work and determination are the keys to making it, in this industry or any other. Great work, Kulha.

  • http://bleacherreport.com/users/746116-shaun-m-church Shaun Church

    You’re an inspiration for us all, Andrew. Great job, sir.

  • http://twitter.com/AlexKHall Alex Hall

    Great story, AK. I’m glad you made the decision you did so I could have the opportunity to work for and learn from you last Fall during my internship days. Keep killing it my friend and I look forward to our inevitable Tony Romo Twitter wars come September.

  • http://bleacherreport.com/ Greg Pearl

    Nice read, AK. Proud to call you my coworker!

  • Charles eAkerton

    Highly disappointed with your report on the espys best team. Heat obviously were the best team in 2012. All the polls show this time and time again. Please lay off on your over bias articles. Is it possible for your writers to be professional and show more then one angle on an article? Of course we are talking about the same writers that trashed on the heat and Lebron all season. Once again your ignorant writers are proven wrong. They have just cost you another reader!!

  • Joel Cordes

    You stood out from Day 1 with us in the Internship, AK. Hard work will get one further than talent, but having both of them is what really separates the do-ers from the wishers. You’ve been proof of this truth!