Everyone asks, “So what’s next? What do you want to do after graduation?” I was one of the few people who knew, no matter what it took, that I was going to work toward becoming a reporter and, eventually, a foreign correspondent. It is really difficult just thinking about the transition between college and “real life.” There is so much pressure on you when you are a senior to have some kind of idea where you will be going. This interview was originally published in February 2014. When it comes down to it, she says, the most important thing is to never compromise the things and the people that inspire her, because staying inspired is ultimately the thing that keeps her going. Heba’s tried and true strategy for these moments? Center herself, take a deep breath and remember why she needs to tell the story she’s telling. Using her intuition and incredible organization skills, Heba manages to juggle one high-pressure, high-stress job-delivering the truth to the people.

Fast-forward five years to the present, and Heba is living the dream working as a digital reporter at. Heba’s path became even clearer when she landed a summer internship at CBS News in New York City, and then a job as a freelance Broadcast Associate at the same foreign desk where she interned. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she wanted to be part of that world. She had always been interested in storytelling and the world around her, but it all came together at the age of 13 when a family friend told Heba about her job as a reporter. Growing up in America with parents from Lebanon, Heba Kanso, 27, learned the importance of keeping up with foreign news early on.

Heba kanso