Click on Meaghan Thomas to go to her Twitter page.
I emailed Meaghan Thomas to see what she had to go through to become a meteorologist here are the questions and answers.
1. Have you ever experienced a Natrual disaster?
Yes I have. In 2011 I experienced, first hand, the tornado that ripped through Tuscaloosa. I was a junior in college and it was the worst thing I have ever seen to this day. In 2013, I also witnessed, first hand, a tornado that came through El Reno, Oklahoma. Unfortunately it killed a few fellow storm chasers.
2. What made you want to be a meteorologist?
Honestly, I have wanted to do this ever since I was about 11 years old. I visited space camp in Huntsville (once in 5th grade for a day trip & once in 7th grade for a week of sleep-away camp) and absolutely loved it. The Sun, among other things, controls weather here on earth and I was hooked. In 8th grade I began doing reading the morning announcements for my middle school on TV every morning and I fell in love with that too! So, blending my love for science and broadcasting was a no brainer!
3. Do have a role model that helped you believe you could be a meteorologist?
I've had several. I double majored in Telecommunications and Film AND Geography while at Alabama. So, professor wise, I would say that Dr. Trann in Broadcasting and Dr. Mary Wallace Pitts in Geography had the most faith in me to complete my dream.
In graduate school at Mississippi State, Renny Vandewege was the best mentor I could have ever asked for. He was constantly encouraging, urging us to get better, stay focused, and extremely helpful in job searching.
I've also had several internships (Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, and here at 33/40). The best role model I had through those has to be Karen Minton at WSB in Atlanta. She constantly encouraged me and we still keep in touch even today. Making her proud is important to me! I would also note Glenn Burns and David Chandley at WSB were wonderful roll models in this business and I learned an immense amount of information from them.
Now, I also look up to Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist at Good Morning America and ABC News. I have never met her, but seeing a successful, beautiful woman in a leadership roll is amazing to me. She is so personable, knowledgable, successful, and credible. I aspire to be like her daily!
4. Did you have any fears to overcome to become a meteorologist?
Nope. Ive always loved science and weather.
5. How long have you know you wanted to be a meteorologist?
Like I mentioned in question 2: Since I was 11 years old.
6.What can you say to younger children that want to study weather to help inspire them?
I want children to know that no matter how hard school may get, do NOT give up.
Fun fact: I was never good at math and in high school I took Algebra about 3 times... I constantly thought I was never going to get a meteorology degree because you need Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Calculus 3, and Differential Equations... Can you believe I passed all those math classes with flying colors in college? I can't even imagine what my life would be like if I had given up on myself because math got "hard." Just because you can't get through one thing, DO NOT GIVE UP. I will also say, do not let people tell you, you can't do something. Throughout college I had one professor, who will remain nameless, constantly telling me I was not good enough. He told me I would never get the internship in Atlanta.... I did. He told me I would never get into grad school.... I did. He told me I was never going to make it on TV... I did. He was the fuel to my fire. It made me work harder and I knew I had to achieve my lifelong dream. It is still unreal to me that I am doing what I've always dreamed of doing.
7. What is your favorite part about being a meteorologist?
I have 2 favorite parts... The first is meeting people and getting to go to schools to talk with children about the weather. I love people and children so it is a joy to me to share my passion with them. To see their faces light up, is the coolest thing EVER! My second favorite would be storm chasing. I am an adrenaline junkie. I love seeing nature work. It is incredible.
Yes I have. In 2011 I experienced, first hand, the tornado that ripped through Tuscaloosa. I was a junior in college and it was the worst thing I have ever seen to this day. In 2013, I also witnessed, first hand, a tornado that came through El Reno, Oklahoma. Unfortunately it killed a few fellow storm chasers.
2. What made you want to be a meteorologist?
Honestly, I have wanted to do this ever since I was about 11 years old. I visited space camp in Huntsville (once in 5th grade for a day trip & once in 7th grade for a week of sleep-away camp) and absolutely loved it. The Sun, among other things, controls weather here on earth and I was hooked. In 8th grade I began doing reading the morning announcements for my middle school on TV every morning and I fell in love with that too! So, blending my love for science and broadcasting was a no brainer!
3. Do have a role model that helped you believe you could be a meteorologist?
I've had several. I double majored in Telecommunications and Film AND Geography while at Alabama. So, professor wise, I would say that Dr. Trann in Broadcasting and Dr. Mary Wallace Pitts in Geography had the most faith in me to complete my dream.
In graduate school at Mississippi State, Renny Vandewege was the best mentor I could have ever asked for. He was constantly encouraging, urging us to get better, stay focused, and extremely helpful in job searching.
I've also had several internships (Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, and here at 33/40). The best role model I had through those has to be Karen Minton at WSB in Atlanta. She constantly encouraged me and we still keep in touch even today. Making her proud is important to me! I would also note Glenn Burns and David Chandley at WSB were wonderful roll models in this business and I learned an immense amount of information from them.
Now, I also look up to Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist at Good Morning America and ABC News. I have never met her, but seeing a successful, beautiful woman in a leadership roll is amazing to me. She is so personable, knowledgable, successful, and credible. I aspire to be like her daily!
4. Did you have any fears to overcome to become a meteorologist?
Nope. Ive always loved science and weather.
5. How long have you know you wanted to be a meteorologist?
Like I mentioned in question 2: Since I was 11 years old.
6.What can you say to younger children that want to study weather to help inspire them?
I want children to know that no matter how hard school may get, do NOT give up.
Fun fact: I was never good at math and in high school I took Algebra about 3 times... I constantly thought I was never going to get a meteorology degree because you need Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Calculus 3, and Differential Equations... Can you believe I passed all those math classes with flying colors in college? I can't even imagine what my life would be like if I had given up on myself because math got "hard." Just because you can't get through one thing, DO NOT GIVE UP. I will also say, do not let people tell you, you can't do something. Throughout college I had one professor, who will remain nameless, constantly telling me I was not good enough. He told me I would never get the internship in Atlanta.... I did. He told me I would never get into grad school.... I did. He told me I was never going to make it on TV... I did. He was the fuel to my fire. It made me work harder and I knew I had to achieve my lifelong dream. It is still unreal to me that I am doing what I've always dreamed of doing.
7. What is your favorite part about being a meteorologist?
I have 2 favorite parts... The first is meeting people and getting to go to schools to talk with children about the weather. I love people and children so it is a joy to me to share my passion with them. To see their faces light up, is the coolest thing EVER! My second favorite would be storm chasing. I am an adrenaline junkie. I love seeing nature work. It is incredible.