During his years at Quinnipiac, O’Neill honed his skills in broadcasting, photography and editing — both in and out of the classroom. Whether he was learning in the student media or writing stories for The Quinnipiac Chronicle, he was constantly strenthening the foundation for a career in in the news industry.

“Storytelling elements I learned from my various professors, and even my peers in the Chronicle, shaped the way I crafted the story of each Olympian throughout their time in Beijing,” said O’Neill. 

Instead of flying out to Paris, O’Neill will be stationed at NBC Sports' headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, where much of the network's Olympics coverage will broadcast from.

“I’m in a position where I’m working alongside more than 1,500 dedicated journalists and broadcast engineers across the world," he said. "There's a bit of an adjustment period.”

Even though he's excited about the entire Olympics, there are a few elements he is particularly looking forward to watching.

“This year I’m looking forward to seeing some good highlights from American fencer Anne Cebula,” said O’Neill. “I always enjoyed fencing, and watching Anne, a Brooklyn, New York, high schooler turned Olympian is going to be really exciting to see.”

Reflecting on his journey and offering guidance to aspiring journalists, O’Neill emphasized the importance of cherishing your peers and mentors, as connections are key in a complex industry such as news and media.

“Our industry is wonky because half the job is knowing your craft, and the other is knowing the right person,” said O’Neill. “I was fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity for the 2022 Beijing Olympics because someone I knew dropped out, and they had suggested I take their place. Never underestimate the professional relationships you make in and out of the classroom.”