Find Out What It Means to Me (Why I Study Undergraduate Journalism)

Dearest Readers,
People always ask me why I want to go into journalism…seeing as it is not really the most lucrative industry (thanks for the reminder … world). Well, here’s the thing: I really wished I liked the idea of being a doctor or an engineer or some other profitable career, but when it comes right down to it: I love journalism and even it takes me some time, I will do something at least related to it for the rest of my life. So for all of you out their scoffing at me for my poor choice in careers or for those of you wondering why in the world am I doing this, I just wanted to give a teensy weensy explanation (jk it’s kinda long but…um…oh just read it anyway).
I’m going to be real here readers, I’m pretty sure I first time I said I wanted to be a journalist, it was because Rory on Gilmore Girls wanted to be a journalist (laugh at me all you want but at least I’m honest). That is, however, no longer my reasoning (I have matured…a little). Here is what it really comes down to: People are so interesting, and I want to find everything out there about them, so that I can tell the world, so the world can appreciate it. (for a journalist that was quite a run on…sad)
I was interviewing a girl in the belly-dancing club, (I know, I know, it was awesome) and I was talking to her about how much I’m inspired by people’s stories and she said simply “it’s because we feed off of other people’s positive energies.” No truer words had ever been spoken. Think about it. When you see people doing what they love, (you can tell by the way they talk about it, the way the break into a smile while they’re doing it) it energizes you! (Crazy how that works.) When someone talks to you about what they really love or about some issue that really matters to them, it’s like they are sharing a part of themselves (well they kind of are I guess) with you. For that moment, you are irrevocably a part of their lives.
What other profession would allow me to, as a college freshman, do the following: talk to veterans about their experiences overseas, interview those who live their lives on herbs, ask why a sexual assault victim won’t participate in take back the night, talk to girls in the belly dancing club … you get the idea. I learn about so many things and meet so many riveting people that I would not otherwise get to speak with.
Moving on, I am a curious person, and I have always wanted to know more about the world. Journalism is the perfect excuse. Seriously, haven’t you always wanted to know why someone started this club, how they learned this talented, or what goes on behind closed doors? That is where a journalist comes in. Now, many would say all journalists ignore property rights and invade people’s privacy, not true. Real journalists are people who love people and want to do justice to their lives and works.
It is so hard to take other people’s words and passions and boil them down to a 12 inch story that the world can understand, but that is the challenge I love. I love picking words and integrating quotes and watching their stories come to fruition in my 12 pt times new roman font. Most journalists knows that they can’t tell a story as well as their source can tell it, but it is up to them to do the best they can.
If you couldn’t already tell, journalism really just combines what I love (and would like to hope I am good at doing) talking to people and writing.
Lesson to be learned: Not everyone wants to be a journalist, but everyone should love what they want to be when they grow up. When I leave an interview, I am always smiling. Sure sometimes it stinks: not a ton of recognition, people are mad at you, transcribing is just the worst, but for me, the pros outweigh the cons. I can live with that. What are your thoughts on journalism and your future careers? Or your current careers? (see my journalistic curiosity busting out here? *wink, nudge, add a comment*)
So I study journalism, because I love it. It really is that simple. And I have to hope that because I love it and am passionate about it, I will succeed. Because I won’t settle for less.

Journalistically Yours,
Adorkable

ps. still my pictures!!!

The Energy Never Dies (Does your life energize you?)

Dearest Readers,
“Would this be something, that would energize you?” This week, the leader of the community service group I am a part of sent me an email asking me to work on a project this quarter with that question attached. What a cool concept, I thought to myself. Does the thought of this project actually energize me? Now maybe the energize stood out because I have been running on low levels of sleep and high levels of coffee this week and being energized sounds just yummy, but what an interesting way to pinpoint a common problem we all face.
For those of us who take on way too much than we can realistically handle (I know nothing about this *sarcastic wink*), this is a great question to help us prioritize. I, like many others here at OU, want to join just about everything, but what is it that actually energizes me. If it came down to me having a spare hour, would I want to spend it doing [insert task here]? Maybe so, but it is at least important to consider.
This question can also be expanded to our future careers. We are all trying to make money in this freakishly sad economic climate, but does the thought of our future career energize us? Our future lives should not be something we are resigned to, they should be something we are passionate about living! (I know gaggable, but I thought that sentence was cute even if it was a hallmark moment.) For someone who wants to be a journalist, the professionals tell me I won’t sleep at night, I’ll make no money, and I will work crazy hours, but if I love it, I should do it. To be frank (but my name’s not frank … oh lame sleep deprived jokes … bear with me people), not very reassuring. But the thought of staying up perfecting an article or calling obscure source #5, in a twisted way, excites me. Every time I leave an interview or see my byline in the paper, I get that ridiculous warm happy feeling in the pit of my stomach (you know the one, silly readers…the one that makes you feel satisfied with life for that little moment), and that to me is an impetus for my career decision. The thought of being a journalist energizes me.
Lesson to be Learned: We do so much for our resumes, for our parents, for our schools, for our future employers, that we have be reminded that what it really comes down to is our passions. Does what you do energize you? If it doesn’t, can you live with that?
Passionately yours,
Adorkable

ps. the picture is another adorkable original :)

Do What You Want! (Take Classes for Pleasure )

Dearest Readers,
Next year, I am actually going to try to study what I want to study. I’m not advocating abandoning all required classes, but seriously, why not take the classes I actually want to take?? Crazy concept I know. As the father of one of my close friends from home (who I will call Broadway Bound Bombshell…the friend not her dad, that would be weird) always says “college is the one time you have to be selfish.”
How did I come to this conclusion you might ask ... oh clever reader … well last weekend I attended the Society of Professional Journalist’s Conference (SPJ) in Cleveland, where we were able to chat with everyone from Social Media Experts to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Editor, and the editor (who will in fact be doing the hiring...just in case you were unaware) continually stressed the need for students to have a solid base education. The editor of the Post Gazette coined the phrase “I want my journalists educated not trained.” I had never thought this way before. Now, I am not sure I whole-heartedly agree with his perspective here, because I am currently taking Online Journalism … which is apparently a no no … but I do think his point has validation. You can’t write about what you don’t know, and those hiring journalists, as well as those hiring in all other professions, are looking for people with specialties. And let’s be real, in this economy the more obscure your specialty, the better. Not to mention, if the editor is telling me to take econ classes not journalism classes, but I got my internship based on my journalism classes … no one employer is looking for the same thing, so you have to be yourself and take who wants you. Besides, do you really want to get hired at a place that likes that you took all the classes you hated? I bet you’ll love working there (insert sarcastic tone here).
I was further influenced by the visit of Ana Marie Cox who was the keynote speaker of a symposium at OU, who literally emphasized that you should keep wasting your time doing what you do, because that is what you love and that is what will really get you hired. She messed around on the Internet back in its beginning stages, which landed her a job at an online blog and now she is an editor at GQ, by making witty sex jokes and political criticisms. (two things that she ‘wasted’ her time doing … sounds like we could be friends.)
I think I have been too caught up in ‘what does my employer want me to have learned’ mentality. (because if I don’t get a job I’ll die poor and alone in a dark alley!!) Instead I should be thinking, what do I want to actually study. Do I have to take a language if I don’t like it at all (I know…so sue me)? No! Can I take a minor in maybe Psychology or English, because I actually think these topics sound interesting? Yes … mayhaps so! Can I take random classes like classical mythology or non-european history for nothing besides my personal enjoyment? Okay I concede. Ideally, yes, but realistically, at least I will try.
Lesson to be learned: College is about you. We get caught up in the bad economy and the horror of unemployment, and we forget that this is our ONE chance at college. (well unless you flunk out, so you could always go that route!) If we don’t enjoy at least some of our classes, what is the point? We went through the SATs and all the high school classes where we had limited options to get to this opportunity. Take the darn class!
Encouragingly yours,
Adorkable

ps. i took the picture again which is why this post is delayed...it's hard to find time to take the picture i want to these days!
pps. new things! first off i'm adding what the post is about in the title because I'm forgetting everything I've already written about (I know so many posts like almost 20 haha) and please add comments about education for you. Disagree if you wish, I'm just trying to add this new thing called 'interactivity' (kind of a social media buzz word) so please comment away!

You Can Always Look at the Negative, But You Should Always Live in the Positive

Dearest Readers,
Live in the mundane.
I know, so original isn’t it?! But seriously, consider it. Imagine if we all actually learned to appreciate the mundane. To embrace it.
For those of you who have spoken to me lately, you may have noticed that I have been in a bit of a funk. Readjusting to the new quarter, I have had trouble. I am a girl who likes to stay busy, and before classes start up I hate to feel I am just twiddling my thumbs. I have to be productive or I label it as ‘wasting my time.’ Maybe this is just my freaky nature or maybe it stems from the hyperactive culture of the high school I attended (see old blog post about not being able to take breaks…it kind of relates). The moral of the story is, I keep thinking that I am supposed to be embarking on the best four years of my life, and I am not taking advantage of everything. If I miss one opportunity, I’m out for the count!!! I don’t allow myself the chance to appreciate just being here.
Now consider this: most of you who read this are in college (I think). How many people actually get to go to college in their lifetime? What a privilege! The weather in Athens is gorgeous, the trees are blooming, people are coming out of hibernation to frolick amongst the greens. How lucky are we to live in a time where we can enjoy that? (Our country is not war torn internally, no one is forcing us to become cannibals, etc.) We are so incredibly lucky to just be where we are. To live. It’s that simple.
Now this post is not to say don’t take chances or ever live on the edge. One blog I read today really exemplified the importance of the taking risk mentality and how exiting it can be. But that doesn’t mean that every minute of your life has to be spent taking chances, doing everything that is great a wonderful. Because let’s be real, most of life is made up of how to kill the hour between classes, what to do this Friday, and what television series we will follow this season.
Lesson to be learned: We shouldn’t guilt-trip ourselves into always being productive. Don’t lose ambition, but take time to appreciate all that is gorgeous about the mundane: laughing with friends, walking to class in the sun, reading for pleasure. I know this sounds very kumbaya lets hold hands around the campfire, but hey, I’d rather be the one holding hands and singing than sitting sullenly on the log. (I feel this is a poor analogy….eh…you get the picture, you’re smart people.)
Life is what it is. So you can like it or you can hate it. It’s not really what you do, it’s your attitude. Live passionately.
Deep Thinkingly Yours,
Adorkable

ps. i actually took the picture for this blog post ... i am trying to learn how to use a camera ... like a real one. all the others come from websites that use the creative commons license.