Meet Our Latest Alumna Spotlight: Allie Pecorin

Name:

Allie Pecorin

Hometown:

Naperville, Illinois

Theta pledge class:

MC '14

Where you live now:

Washington, D.C.

When you graduated from Mizzou:

May of 2018, I'm fresh out of school

Major/Degree:

Convergence Journalism

What do you miss most about Mizzou?

I loved who I became at Mizzou. I began as a freshmen so unsure, lacking confidence and direction. By senior year, I had become this entirely different person who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to ask for it. That's largely because I was comfortable in my space, confident of what I was doing, having so much fun, and being so well loved by the people around me. When I moved to a new city, I lost some of that comfort, and am still working on regaining that level of confidence. I miss being around people who knew me intimately and I miss loving on those people, because being around them made me my favorite version of myself.

What do you miss most about Theta?

My theta sisters are my people. Even now, when we're spread hundreds of miles across the country from one another, I talk to someone from Theta every single day. Homecoming, Greek Week, formals and philanthropy dinners: all of that stuff is memorable and made up an important part of my college experience. But when I think about Theta post-grad, what I think about is my people. I miss being feet from the women who built me into the person I am today. I miss walking into my house every day to the smiling faces of my Theta sisters. I lived with Thetas every semester from sophomore year on, so I miss having my sisters around me to love me through tough times and laugh through every positive thing with. I miss knowing that there was always someone to study with, get Andy's with or to share the latest embarrassing story with. I miss walking alongside these women every day. My pledge class prided itself on being remarkably close. We really were, and we continue to be post grad, a family. Being apart from a family is difficult, but it's exciting to know that I have people around the country I can always depend upon.

Where do you work right now/what have you been up to since graduation?

I work for ABC News as a desk assistant for our political investigations team in Washington DC. There is no such thing as a typical day in my job. I just spent the last month of my life covering the trial of President Trump's former campaign chairmen Paul Manafort in Virginia, and am gearing up to cover his next trial which begins in DC in just a few weeks. When I'm out in the field covering a story, I do everything from helping to take notes and run editorial to teleprompting our correspondents for World News tonight and Good Morning America to helping with shooting video and producing content. My job (and the fellowship I had at ABC before I was a hired on) has given me opportunities to cover hearings on Capitol Hill, marches on Pennsylvania Avenue and an address from the White House. My current team covers all things related to the Mueller/Russia Investigation so I spend time at the district court in DC or staking out the grand jury. When I'm in office I research and write for ABC's website, and you can read my content at ABCNews.com

Other future career/life goals:

I always knew I wanted to be a journalist, so I'd like to continue in the profession and see where it takes me. I'd like to report on a presidential candidate’s campaign in the coming years, and want to keep covering politics in whatever capacity I can.

What's your favorite thing about your job?

No two days are the same, every day is an adventure. I almost never know going into the office where I'm going to end up that day, and so I'm constantly on my toes. I get asked to do a lot of things that push the limits of what I think I can do, which means my job constantly gives me opportunities to prove to myself that I'm capable of more than I thought. I am on the team that covers the Russia investigation so I am a small part in reporting one of the most important stories in my lifetime. Sometimes I'll be reporting at or assisting with a shoot at a high-profile trial or hearing and I'll think to myself "wow, I just cannot believe I am here witnessing history". This is the coolest job ever, and I do it with some of the coolest people in the world. My team is phenomenal and I learn a TON from the people who have been doing this job a lot longer than I have. They are great coaches and teachers and amazing reporters. I'm really lucky.

What's your favorite thing about the city you live in?

The people in DC are just electric. This city attracts a very specific type of person. People who are drawn to Washington are curious, passionate people with a work ethic unlike any I've ever seen. They are smart and bright, and even total strangers want to engage in conversations about ideas and politics. I learn so much from every person I interact with and am constantly being challenged with and shaped by new ideas. We live in this gorgeous, wonderful city full of culture and politics and power, which means you regularly find yourself in Uber pools with Trump staffers, journalists, senators, lawyers and consultants. Every person here has a rich story to tell, and as a curious woman and a reporter, I find that captivating.

What are you passionate about?

Stories. I have always believed that at our core, we're storytellers. People connect by telling stories and every single person has a story they desperately want to be heard and affirmed. My passion is listening to other people's stories and, in some cases, telling those stories through any and all mediums. If we all spent a little more time listening to the stories of those around us I believe we'd be more empathetic people who could better serve each other. That's why I'm a journalist.

And on a much less serious note... coffee. A good cup of coffee -- iced and black -- brings me more joy than anything in the world. As does finding a new cool coffee shop in a new cool neighborhood.

Do you have a specific favorite Theta memory?

Oh gosh I don't think I could ever narrow it down to one...

What do you do in your free time?

I love exploring Washington both with friends and by myself. I think moving to a new city brings with it lots of challenges to adjust and make new friends right away. I try to spend as much time as I can with people I'm meeting here, but I also like to venture out by myself. DC is such a huge playground. I go to a lot of museums, particularly art museums (all of them are free here!), visit new neighborhoods and can always be caught sitting in new coffee shops. I love going to bookstores and picking out new reads, and I can be found walking miles about the city on weekends.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Journalism is a really daunting career to get in to, but if you're passionate about it, DO IT! And seriously Theta girls, if you have questions about what I do or about life in general give me a shout. If anyone is interested in following along with stories I write, you can follow me on twitter at @AllisonMPecorin -- A series of terrible photos of me running out of court to report the Manafort verdict are currently trending on Twitter, and you can see them all there.

My Theta sisters and this sisterhood have truly built me into the person I am today and I am blessed beyond words to be a part of this organization.