PARIS, France — The 2024 Olympic Summer Games are in full swing and for one college student from Mechanicsburg, it's time to be a part of something that once felt like only a dream.
Natalie Koranda is a senior communications major at Temple University and earned an opportunity to cover the games for her school.
"It is a feeling that I can't even describe, I mean that's how insane and cool and unique it is," said Koranda. "This is Paris, and it is the Olympics. It is such a spectacle of an event and I couldn't say no."
Koranda and three other Temple students were selected to go to Paris as part of their Temple University Television (TUTV) production. The group, and their advisor, are tasked with putting together stories and sending them back to their production crew in Philadelphia.
"I think right now I'm still definitely in shock. I don't think the feeling that I am here doing this right now has [sunk in]," said Koranda. "I wake up and [realize] I'm in Paris somehow after a long journey at Temple."
The Temple students arrived in Paris on Sunday and immediately hit the ground running. They have already taken part in several live productions, alongside producing stories ranging from cooking with Parisian locals to the Olympics' impact on traffic.
On any given day, Koranda may not know exactly what she will encounter or what story she will be telling next, but one thing is for sure, she's ready to give it her all.
"What I'm most looking forward to getting out of this whole trip is the experience of being on the frontline with the other thousands of reporters and millions of people coming to watch the games," explained Koranda. "[I tell myself] I need to really put everything that I have into this so I can leave proud of my work and everything I've done."
It's a mindset Koranda has embraced since day one, on her path to becoming a professional journalist.
"A message I would tell my younger self is everything happens for a reason and don’t worry," said Koranda. "It’s going to work out because you’re putting in the time to make sure it works out."
Koranda and the rest of the Temple University Summer Olympic Games team will be in Paris until Friday to continue their coverage. They plan on creating an additional production using their coverage in September.