Spring Break
Documentarian, writer passes diverse experiences on to students
Chloe Wittry
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: News
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A self-described "specialized generalist," the native New Yorker has worked as everything from writer to model and TV host to Native American documentary filmmaker. But Tuesday afternoon in the Lory Student Center Joseph worked to provide a handful of students with wisdom from her sporadic life experiences.
"I would've been dissatisfied doing something with stability," she told the crowd.
Joseph said her diverse skills and interests are what make her stand out from the cookie-cutter crowd. She is a certified EMT, has dabbled in modeling and raced cars in rallies, such as the Bullrun, before giving birth to her first child last year.
She also explained several of her mottos that begin with a "Be," all of which helped her be different in her life: Be bold, be your own self advocate, be on time and be focused and organized.
"If you don't like what you're doing, move on," Joseph added.
She said that although it may not seem like some experiences in life will mean anything later, everything in life will at some point have a nice confluence.
"She is an intriguing person," said sophomore microbiology major Alex Bochim. "I like the diversity in what she's done and how it has all come back together."
With her tall stature and dark complexion, Joseph said she does not give any one person or experience credit for her immensely dynamic interests, and that each interest arose from a unique circumstance.
Her interest in writing came from her father who wrote with her as a child. She developed her interest in studying dolphins when she moved to Hawaii after graduating with a degree in sociology.
"I didn't want to take the traditional route despite everyone telling me to," Joseph said.
From Hawaii, she went on to work as an independent "cyberpersonality" on the Web, covering stories from sports to the Oscars, something she enjoyed for the laughs she drew out of others.
"I didn't know I was funny until I got on the air and people reacted," she said. "That's when I realized I really like to make people laugh."
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