Elaine Loft, Staff Writer
Alumna and nationally known journalist Jamie Ducharme ‘11 visited campus on April 14 to discuss her path from Derryfield to a thriving career in health and science journalism. Ducharme shared how she finds, tells, and follows big stories, and what it’s like to be part of the media industry. Her presentation was funded by the Isakovich-Critz Community Enrichment Initiative, the purpose of which is to bring distinguished lecturers, scholars, scientists, mathematicians, writers, and performers to visit Derryfield for Community Meetings and classroom visits.
After Derryfield, Ducharme graduated from Northeastern University. She started her career as the health editor at Boston magazine, before spending seven years as an award-winning health reporter at TIME magazine in New York City. Additionally, she is the author of Big Vape: The Incendiary Rise of Juul, which she helped adapt into the Emmy-winning Netflix docuseries Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul.
Andy Chappell, Head of School, said in his introduction:
“Whenever I get a chance to connect with alumni, they often share that Derryfield taught them how to write, how to stand up in front of an audience and speak, in other words they are affirming what we aim for every Derryfield graduate to have as they head out into the real world–the ability to communicate. They talk about their freshman year in college, when they often figure out very quickly that their classmates don’t seem to have the skills or the training to write a basic essay. It is that moment in which Derryfield alums from all generations recognize that their training here at DS prepared them for college and beyond. Ms. Ducharme takes that to another level as she has proven on the biggest stages that she was not only trained well but has a talent and a passion for researching and communicating.”
Ducharme’s presentation, entitled “The Power of Storytelling,” illustrated how she finds and tells stories, but her core message was, “Everyone has a story to tell if you take the time to look for it.” She began with her own story, sharing that she had always loved reading and writing–as a student she carried a little notebook in which she jotted down story ideas. Although her home was filled with several kinds of print journalism, she gravitated towards magazines. Somewhere during her high school career she realized she could make a career out of her passion. As a Derryfield student she took every writing opportunity she could find, including for the school newspaper and literary magazine. At Northeastern she again joined both the staffs of both the newspaper and the magazine. Ducharme concluded her address with words of encouragement,
“Storytelling can change hearts and minds. Storytelling can shape society. How will you tell your own story? No one can tell your story but you.”
In addition to her presentation at Community Meeting, Ducharme attended four classes to hear student projects, answer student questions, and offer advice about both research and writing. In the evening, there was an event for Derryfield parents, faculty, and staff at the Matarese Commons.
