Blog

Name: Tali Berkowitz
Age: 19
Hometown: Deerfield, Il
School attending: Lawrence University, 2020

Tell us about your background:

I am one of three daughters from a family in the North Shore of Chicago. I have been in band and played the Oboe since I was 10 and played tennis through high school. I have an affinity for knick knacks I definitely don’t need, and I love reading. 

Why did you want to be an intern at FCM?

It seemed like an amazing opportunity to get hands-on experience with local journalism which is conveniently right next to campus.

What’s your favorite thing about the Fox Cities?

I love the people I have met while I have been here. While it’s hard to get off campus, I love the farmers market right on College Ave. and getting to see local food, art and everything else.

The last book you read:

The last book I finished was “Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall” by Kazuo Ishiguro. I am currently reading “Journal of the Plague Year” by Daniel Defoe for my 18th century terrors class and “The Politics of Resentment” by Kathy Cramer for my political science research methods class.

Last movie you watched:

The Netflix adaptation of “Our Souls at Night” based on the book by the same name by Kent Haruf. It is one of my all time favorite books. More recently I have been binging “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.”

Any hidden talents?

I can misplace something after putting it down in three seconds flat!

What can’t you live without?

I couldn’t survive without my friends and family. It sounds cliche, but they really are the things that make each day special.

What’s the biggest risk you ever took?

When I was 16, I traveled alone for the first time to an international music camp in the Czech Republic. I was so scared about making friends and if the other kids would all be quasi-Mozart prodigies. It turned out to be so much fun and such a learning experience, and I am still in contact with a few friends from the camp.  

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

The first job I ever worked was at a summer music camp when I was 16. The camp is a not-for-profit run mostly through donations and grants, so naturally there was lots of underfunding. At orientation our boss sat us down and gave a speech about fighting for the arts and at the end she said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” At the time I thought it was an original quote and I was so inspired by it. I later discovered it was a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, but was no less inspired.

Describe your perfect Saturday:

Wake up mid-morning feeling refreshed, followed by a brunch of chocolate chip pancakes and my favorite black cherry yogurt with friends. Then we would go our separate ways and I would spend the afternoon reading or watching TV, and if it was warm enough do something outside. A quick nap before and catching with friends at a dinner of deep-dish Chicago-style pizza followed by ice cream, of course. After dinner we would hang out for a while before going out for the night to a small, calm party, and after everyone would get home safely.