Meet the Staff: Foram Mehta

BG would like you to get to know our staff. After all, BG is written for you by girls just like you!

Meet Foram Mehta.

I was born in India and my parents moved my sister and me to the States when I was about 4 ½. We actually came on Halloween of ’93 – can you imagine that culture shock?

We lived with family in Austin, New Mexico, and North Carolina before settling down in Kentucky. I picked up pre-school there and met my first crush; an adorable rosy-cheeked boy named Jeremiah. I’m actually the only one not looking straight in our class picture because I was glancing to the side admiring him!

My family moved to Oklahoma after that, and I lived in a small town called Tonkawa for a year and in Tulsa for another two years. After that, we came down to Texas and I spent six years in another small town (our specialty), Marlin and the last four leading up to college in Lufkin.

Since I’ve been at the University of Texas, I’ve been studying Journalism – specifically Broadcast Journalism. For the first two years I was technically a pre-Journalism major until I was qualified to apply to an upper-division sequence. Broadcast is supposedly the most competitive because only 30 are accepted into the sequence every fall semester and even fewer for the spring semesters. So, needless to say –I extremely thrilled and relieved when I was accepted!

BG:  When did you first realize you want to go into Journalism?

Foram: I was in the 7^th grade when I decided that I was meant to be a journalist. I hadn’t ever really given it a thought before because I had originally wanted to be an architect, pediatrician, or graphic artist. (Very different aspirations – I know) One day my dad pulled out a horoscope a wise, old astrologist had written out for me when I was born. It outlined all sorts of events in my life. Some had already come true – eerie! The astrologist predicted that I would go into the Journalism field, and it got me thinking. I realized that I was totally destined to make a living out of what I do best – talk! I was much better with words than with numbers and I loved to pass on information. I decided then and there that I would become a journalist and have never wavered since. Of course, I’ve wondered if perhaps it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy – my choosing to go into journalism. What would have happened if my dad had never read me that horoscope? I don’t know if I would have ever chosen it for myself, but now that I have, I know it’s the right choice! What came first – the chicken or the egg? Who knows!

BG:  Are there specific topics you like to write about? What have been your favorite stories thus far?

I love opinion pieces and profiles. I absolutely love to know a person’s real story under the exterior they showcase for others to see everyday. I often catch myself wanting to just sit someone down and have him or her dish about his or her life. People are really fascinating creatures, and I love to tell their stories for others. It really helps bring people together to step inside another’s shoes, and I love helping people to do that.

As far as the opinion pieces go – I’m a pretty opinionated gal so there’re those. I like to speak my mind and I find that journalism is a great outlet to do so without getting judged (too harshly, anyway!) You’ll often find that your voice speaks for many unspoken, and that’s a great feeling!

BG: Tell us about your experience at Marie Claire. What were some things you learned and hope to take into your future career?

My experience at Marie Claire as a Winter Features Intern was life changing! It by far the best five weeks of my life and I’m so incredibly lucky to have even had the opportunity to work there. If I hadn’t been dreaming already as I packed my things and headed off for the Big Apple to work at an internationally read top women’s magazine – I definitely HAD to be when I was handed not one, but TWO assignments that would be published! The first was a full-page feature usually done by an editor, and the second a small column.

It was absolutely amazing being on my own and fending for myself in the city I’d always dreamed of working in. I made some wonderful friends, ate incredible food, and saw and shopped at some fabulous places! I couldn’t believe five weeks had passed by the time I was already leaving. New York City became my home for the time I was there, and I even had feelings of homesickness when I came back to Texas!

It was an incredible experience learning what a writer/editor’s job is really like in the real world. I gained some great real-world knowledge of what it’s like to work in a fashion magazine, and really learned how to live on my own. Of course I was still swiping my parents’ credit cards, but they weren’t there to help me find my way around the city or guide me through work. I definitely gained a sense of myself while I was there, and words really can’t describe how lucky I feel to have had the opportunity!

BG:  How do you feel about the grown number of South Asian women in Journalism now?

I think it’s fantastic that South Asian women are branching out and finding new outlets to excel in. There are many stereotypes that exist about South Asian women always being bookworms who become doctors and nurses and other very “bookish” professionals. Often, South Asian parents are also guilty of pressuring their children to head down those paths because they bring prestige and a good salary, so it makes me very hopeful to see what other barriers these women will continue to break in the future.

BG: Where do you see yourself in your career in 10 years?

In ten years, I see myself hopefully working as a TV personality! Although I love to write, I am a broadcast journalism major and ultimately would like to end up on TV. I’m not so sure if news is my thing anymore because I just don’t think I’m cutthroat enough to be a feisty reporter, but nowadays there are so many opportunities out there besides news.

BG: How do you hope to promote South Asian interests in your career?

I’ve always said that journalism is a great key for communication. It helps bring people together and relate. I hope to use my degree to address issues and interests of the South Asian community. By doing so I hope to educate and entertain interests of readers everywhere, South Asian and not.

BG: Recommend any good reads?

I am huge bookworm, and always have been. I absolutely love the feeling of curling up in a comfy couch with a cozy blanket and diving into a new unknown world. My favorite genre is historical fiction because I’m also a big history nut.

Although I’m a die-hard fan of the Harry Potter series, I recently came across a series that I have to say I cannot say enough good things about. The first book is called The Tea Rose and it’s a book set in 19^th century England around the time Jack the Ripper is stalking the streets. The main character’s name is Fiona Finnegan, a young Irish girl with big dreams of owning her own teashop one day. She comes from a big family where her parents work hard to make ends meet, but make up for it in love. Fiona’s childhood love, Joe Bristow is a enthusiastic, lovable, optimistic guy and Fiona dreams of the day she’ll be his wife. One day everything takes a turn for the worse, and Fiona’s whole life is turned upside down.

The book has everything from suspense, history, drama, and an AMAZING love story that I have to rank next to Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice (another dear favorite!).

I really can’t describe how AMAZING this book is – and the second in the series, The Winter Rose is JUST as fantastic – which is rare for a series. The book could hold its own even if you haven’t read the first! I’m counting down the days for the final book, The Wild Rose.