Deadly Car Accident on Washington Road, a Serious Entry

Dearest Readers,

Warning: This post is serious, like bone chilling serious. No normal adorkable quips and witticisms…just a college girl trying to think about a horrific accident. I won’t be offended if you close this window.

Sometimes, when awful things happen, you get in a funk and all these big abstract ideas and questions and values and thoughts swim around in your brain and you feel like you have no constructive way to deal with them. I try to use words. Black and white soothes me. Syntax. Rhythm. Catharsis. Please know I am not trying to take someone else’s pain and use it for my blog’s benefit…I am using my blog as a personal outlet for the unexplainables that are quietly filling my mind.

At an intersection right by my house, a 20-year-old boy was driving a car high with seven traffic violations over the past few months. He turned a corner without stopping at a stop sign and hit a jogging mother who was pushing a stroller with her 1 year old and 3 year old children. He hit her. The kids were fine, but she died today (a day after the incident). A mother died, and so did the driver’s dreams for the future. I didn’t know any of the parties involved personally, but when a horrific accident like that happens so close to your home, you can’t help but be shaken. (read the full story here) Here are my rambling thoughts that hopefully will help verbalize some of the local readers’ thoughts readers or will at least remind you to be thankful for your life.

My mom used to walk that same street with my brother and I and my neighbor with young toddlers. I turn out of that intersection every single day. It could have been me; it could have been her.

My friend brought up the point: the woman was just going for a jog. She left her house and as she was crossing that street, she was probably thinking about dinner for that night, she may have been annoyed with her kids, or trying to get home in time to change one of their diapers. Menial things. Death was the last thing on her mind. Imagine that. She was 36.

The driver is what keeps catching me up. He was 20. A year older than me and he went to my high school. He was known for drugs, but I never heard about him being a bad kid. He was stupid for driving that way. Obviously, but his future died that day too. He has to live forever with the guilt that he killed this woman…I can’t even imagine the weight of it all on him. He will probably go to prison.

Last year, when I was driving home from the beach with friends, we pulled off as we were lost, and entered a not well-marked intersection. I went slowly, but I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to stop or not, when a bicycle came from out of no where (or so I attest). I screeched on the brakes and he swerved, making it to the sidewalk and falling off of his bike only to stand up unharmed. It was one of those moments where you just can’t believe what almost happened. We pulled off into a parking lot and I was shaking. I wasn’t sure I could drive anymore, and then the biker came to the window. He told me he was the father of 8 and what if I had killed him? He limped off. What if it had been me? What if it had been me?

Another friend and I discussed this: Think of how many moments built to the accident near my house. The mom left a few minutes after her normal time, because the 1 year old was fussy. The driver decided to go a different way home. She stopped to say hi to a neighbor on the way. The driver was changing the radio station and looking down. Every moment lined up to create this. I feel like my small almost incident was my one get out of jail free card, and look at how easily it could have been this.

The hard part for me is that I have nothing constructive to do. So people change their driving habits for a week or a day, what does it take to make a lasting impact? How do I help a family I don’t even know? I can’t help. I can only stare at the lives of strangers, almost shake at the horridness and move forward.

Lesson to be Learned: These events shake you, but they remind you to live each day and appreciate every moment. I know it’s totally cliché, but how can you not think that after hearing something like this? Can you blame me?

So I guess, all I can do is say R.I.P. and I hope everyone who reads this is more aware, because really, it’s the least we can do.

Sincerely,

Adorkable

Starting the Summer Off with Accidental Insults and Ridiculous Adventures

Dearest Readers,

Did you miss me?? (of course you did pfffft) I am very sorry for my 20ish day hiatus. I kept putting it off. Finals week. Coming home. New job. You know the drill…the more I pushed it off the greater the task seemed to loom. As if a blog post is unconquerable or a scary green and blue monster (I don’t know how I chose those colors either). So here I am…you are probably curious, oh loving readers, as to what crazy shenanigans I have been up to and what I, this crazy kid, has to say. Oh readers, have I got stories for you!

Mostly I have been working as an intern for Whirl and Edible Allegheny Magazines. (same office) All I can say is, it’s wonderful. I am working at Bath and Body Works (because scented lotion is my calling). And then I hang with my fabulous friends…and this is where all of my best stories occur.

Adorkabley Embarrassing Moment: Insulting a Room of Strangers

So lately my friends have been on a kick of trying to get out of our bubble-like suburb. So a friend, who I will call Brother Flail, discovered a comedy open mike. Oh kay people, there are several red flags here: the open mike is located at some place called “The Royal,” on a Thursday night, and it’s an open mike…oh dear. Now as a comedy lover and improv performer myself, I was wary, but we decided to go to do something different. It was something different alright. We walked up the creeky stairs to the “lounge:” an empty room over a bar decorated with canvas paintings of bricks (that’s right people, brick photos were used as art). Two people were there when we arrived, and clearly they were startled to see five college-age students arrive. It was shady, however, since no one was there I decided why not perform for just two people and my friends? HAH! (bad idea, never again). Right after I signed up, in walked 5 other comics who added their names to the list. People who had worked to come up with jokes and a plan (I had nothing…but regret of course). Everyone performed aiming their jokes solely at us, because we were the only new audience members. Some were funny, most made jokes about being unemployed or getting a divorce or something equally awkward. It was probably the two most uncomfortable hours of my life (which basically means I basically peed myself laughing and it was totally awesome). I decided, clever me, to perform my forensics (speech and debate) piece from last year: a children’s novel about santa’s daughter. (yes I know this was a bad idea, but it was all I had prepared in any way shape or form). When my turn finally came, my trouble began (because it was smooth sailing before now):

I decided to break the ice, I would talk about how I was in an improv troupe at school so I really respected how they got up in front of people in the name of comedy. That is what I intended to say, but here is what I said instead: “Just wanted to say I’m in an improv troupe, so I know what its like to perform and fail….oh gosh no I meant…I know what it’s like when a joke flops…oh wait no I meant” (at this point I was digging a severe hole, my face had reached a new level of fuchsia and my friends were sitting in the corner guffawing at me…oh expletive) from there I performed a 5 minute flustered, shortened version of my piece. (In front of a bunch of 20-40 aged men who had just performed stand up let it suffice to say it didn’t go over particularly well). I basically sprinted off stage (the show saved me for last btw, because they wanted to end with that gem) and as we were leaving, one of the guys, who was very nice I’m sure but at this point was a 28 year old guy sweating pleasantly through his shirt, asked me if I was an actress and if so could he have my number. (oh goodness was he hitting on me?) To be fair he could have been perfectly innocent in his inquiry, but I mumbled something about being gone most of the summer and ducked away in a dead sprint. As I took the stairs 4 at a time in ungraceful leaps, they yelled down that they hoped to see us next week. I think once was quite enough for me thanks.

Lesson to be learned: Do something different, because even if it doesn’t end up as you planned, you will always come back with a story.

Although I have many more stories for you, my beautiful readers, this is long enough as it is so I will leave you with one little anecdote:

Last night, my friend, who I will call the Maestro, was driving and he loves him some classical music. So the four of us in the car decided it would be fun to drive around late at night, pull up next to cars late at red lights, and blast classical music while dancing as if it was modern music. Imagine their surprise when they see these teens rocking out to Mozart! Hahahaha (how quintessentially adorkable). We switched it up by blasting the music and staring at people or sitting perfectly still or doing the robot or interpretive dancing. Moral of the story is: it was awesome.

Second Lesson to be learned: You don’t need much to do something creative, different, and hilarious.

Do something crazy today! If any of you have any stories of doing something really bizarre and hilarious please share by leaving a comment! (I love comments a whole lot.) More stories of adorkable craziness are on the way!

Tonguetied-ily Yours,

Adorkable

ps. the picture is mine again...just a summer pic!

The End of the Beginning: Reflections of a College Freshman

Dearest Readers,

I am coming to the end of the beginning. How bizarre. If you think about it, this whole blog has been predicated on the premise that I am a mumbling, stumbling freshman … and I am almost not a freshman anymore. When did that happen? It’s like I’ve been in college forever and yet not at all. I feel like I looked to college as this colossal beast that I would conquer with my witty cracks and poised pen, and now I feel like it’s just the way I live, no conquering is really involved. What a strange place I’m in. I feel the need to blather about this, because I know I’m not the only one.

So I am going to dedicate this post to the things I’ve learned. Because Ohio University is on trimesters (which is great for the whole year until right now), I am still in school until mid June (aka next week) while all of my high school friends are already free and up to their general shenaniganry without me, so I feel like I want to be home so badly I am not giving this year the closure it deserves. As much as I’ve complained and hated this or that, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this year as a freshman finding my way. So as I’ve ambled through this year, here is what I’ve found through sheer trial and error (and for some reason I am under the impression that you will want to read it … ):

1. You don’t have to love college all the time. Now don’t get me wrong here people, overall love should exist. But I had myself convinced I had to have the best 4 years of my life so I better love every second. That’s not possible. Don’t panic when you don’t love it sometimes (Not that I ever did that….that would be silly…*I did*). College, like all parts of life, has its ups and downs.

2. Separate yourself from school. It’s easy when you live on campus to be totally caught up in school (aka homework) all the time. Let yourself breathe. You will only focus when you have given yourself a necessary mental break. I have tried this quarter to be more focused when I study and to relax more when I’m relaxing (seems kind of counter intuitive doesn’t it…forcing relaxation), but it has really helped my productivity.

3. Find creative things to do and actually do them. College campuses have the randomest and coolest things (I know fab word choices) to do that you really can’t do anywhere else. Go see the modern dance performance, watch the Shakespeare play, go to ‘90s night on the green, get a water massage, go to the farmer’s market, see the graphic art exhibit, and check out the improv shows (hint nudge). Just hanging with people is great, but try to live and experience life at college too.

4. Connect with where you live. For some colleges this is easier than others, but in Athens, there is a program called Service Living where you volunteer in the town 3 hours a week and talk about the area weekly. While I wasn’t always the most committed to the meetings, I learned so much about where I was. Because really how can you establish roots somewhere when you don’t even know the ground beneath you? (didn’t that sound so deep and philosophical…I should make inspirational magnets! Does that profession even exist?)

5. Find your niche. Join something where you have a solid comfort group. They don’t have to be your besties for life, but it is really important to find like-minded support systems. Just really commit to one activity, organization, or dorm floor. Sometimes it takes a while to find your true niche, so don’t panic. You’ll find it. You are a fabulous person. (Yes I mean you…you’re welcome…forward all thank you cards to my blog…tee hee).

6. Don’t burn yourself out. I don’t know anything about this … joke … I know everything about this. In high school you can do everything to a certain extent, because everything only requires 100% … In college, everything requires 150%, ergo you can’t do it all. Take it from a girl who can’t say no, learn to say no. You have to let yourself enjoy the social aspects of college and even your classes. Don’t lose sight of those things. Pick a few things and deeply commit yourself, because if you’re stretched too thin you will never survive and won’t love anything anymore.

7. It is all about you. As I said in a previous post, I have been told that college is the one time it is all about you. So do what is best for you. When you are unhappy, fix it. When you want to join something, do it. When you want to attend something your friends don’t want to, go to it. Do something crazy, and live for heaven’s sake before you get smart enough to realize it’s an inane idea.

Lesson to be learned: As my idol Auntie Mame of the play Auntie Mame (I played her in a high school play … time of my life) “Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!” This isn’t a literal message here, folks. Take a second to think abut that quote, reread it or something, there is so much to live for that people don’t take advantage of, so live while you can.

Well, this ended up being much more philosophical then I expected (I literally just started typing and all of these things came out … who knew I had all of this pent up advice? I didn’t that’s for sure). In the end, I guess I am a bit wiser after this year, but not in any of the way’s I expected. Well that’s college for you … nothing like what you expect … not bad, just different and in many ways so much better. :] I’m really interested to hear what all the graduated freshman learned this year!! Did you learn similar lessons or have something you would add to my clearly really complete list?

Thanks for reading with me this year, and don’t worry this blog will continue even though the year is ending. But seriously, thanks for keeping tabs on me this year everybody. A big kiss on the forehead for each of you *swack* (I think that is the accepted kiss noise … though I don’t know if I really agree)

Sophomorically Yours, (get it … sophomorically…hee hee)

Adorkable

ps. the picture is mine again yay!!

pps. my blog is basically in love with another blog by one of my ou journalism bffs the nerdsmith (seriously his blog is nerdify yourself and mine is adorkable...it's a match made in blog heaven) you can check it out here.

Bring back Books: Good Books are Like Good Tea, Let Them Steep

Dearest Readers,

A good book is like good tea, it needs to steep. A novel that makes you think and reanalyze your take on life can’t be put down and forgotten at the drop of a hat. It sticks with you. For me, I go into what I call a ‘post-reading induced coma.’Note: This blog post will be half philosophical half suggestions. I just wanted to say that from the outset, so you know not all of this will be super deepness. End note.

After I finish a book, all I can do is think about it for the next few hours. Forget homework, attending meetings, or any sort of general obligations (hahaa joke…I do everything I need to…except my homework that is). I have to focus on the book after I finish. I feel like it rolls around in my brain. I keep rehashing various scenes and thinking through different characters. I just finished The Help by Kathryn Stocketty (amazing and recommended to me by my mother) and I can’t stop thinking about the book’s moral implications on my life.

(I know, I know I’m a nerd, obvi). But the weirdest post-book-Adorkable-Phonomenon of all, and I don’t know if this is just me, is I start to think in the narration of the author. For example, I think in the author’s short sentences, I depict scenes around me as they would by using certain choice adjectives or an accent or a rambling manner. I think in their voice. (If you do this please comment on this post, so I know I am not the only freak out there.) All in all, readers, we should all be concerned that I am very much on the brink of losing both my identity and apparently my own speech patterns. But in all seriousness, a good book becomes a part of you in some way, shape or form. It gets under your skin and inside your brain wiring.

I love books, in case you haven’t gathered, and I think one of the greatest struggles of our fast-moving collegiate, and in general, world is our inability to sit down, read, and let the book steep. I dedicate this post to the written word. Remember when you read a book for fun? (If you were like me that is) When the smell of an old book could make you smile, the sound of the cover cracking led to a rush of excitement in your stomach, and you could sit down and read for hours with your mind lost in a fantastical world so much greater than yourself. Read for pleasure again. Make time. We learn so much from books.

In order to stick with this theme of book appreciation, I decided to present 5 of my all time favorite books that I would suggest to the universe and I don’t think are always at the top of everyone’s list. (I didn’t include Harry Potter or the obvious choices like 1984 or The Great Gatsby, but we all know they are up there.) The ironic part about me including my book recommendations is two fold: I am down right awful at taking other people’s book suggestions, so if you don’t ever look at these books again except on this screen, I won’t be offended. Second, most of these books I had to read for school, which goes against my whole premise that we should read for fun…sigh…aw well. (As a note: if you love any of these books please comment on the end of this post, and if you have any book suggestions for my summer reading list please leave a comment…I can’t say I’ll read it, but I will give it a valiant effort!)

Books I love, for your reading pleasure:

In Cold Blood By Truman Capote. This might be the best book I’ve ever read. It’s kind of journalistic non-fiction work (I know that right there sounds thrilling), about two men who killed an entire family for, essentially, $50. The book comes directly from Capote’s interviews with the two men, and he makes them into surprisingly sympathetic characters by combining their backgrounds and personal history with the crime. Capote is the author of Breakfast at Tiffanys…in case you were wondering.East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Yes he wrote Grapes of Wrath, no this book is not that painfully long (though I myself was a grapes fan). The book is expertly crafted as the story of essentially two twin brothers trying to break free of the Cain Able trap. Hard to explain. Just read it.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. This book depicts an old man recalling his time in the circus, but it’s actually realistic and kind of a disturbing yet enjoyable plot line. I think Oprah loved it at some point….I can’t decide if that makes me like the book more or less. Watership Down by Richard Adams. Let me start out with this: I hate animal books. But this animal book, about a colony of rabbits of all things, creates such a realistic sub world, it bridges on science fiction.

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. This is the social activist choice. It’s the biography of Paul Farmer who started Partner’s in Health in Haiti to provide free health care to those who need it. It’s the true story of one man saving the world one person at a time.

I hope you find at least one of these suggestions moderately enjoyable. (I thought about adding my favorite childhood books: 21 Balloons and the Westing Game, but decided against it, so I put them in these parenthesis in case you want a blast from an adorkable past.)

Lesson to be Learned: Reading is good. You relax, you learn, and you escape for a few minutes. Read what you want, and don’t feel guilty about pleasure reads too (I went through my romantic chick lit stage…who am I kidding? I still am). All reading is good reading, and it just seems so much more constructive then television.

So crack open a book, smell the delicious pages of text and lap it up.

Bookwormily Yours,

Adorkable

ps. for the first time in a while these pictures aren't mine :(, but it's because they are books I don't have with me so all the pictures should be credited to other bloggers. and my title isn't a song...don't be too sad some rules are made to be broken.

Upside Down: First Installment of Adorkablely Embarrassing Moments and Adorkable Assets

Dearest Readers,

I have been rather philosophical in my posts lately … so I decided it was time for just a plain ole’ fun postie (with deep, impressive, and literary undertones of course … just kidding.) But seriously, I normally like to keep my identity on the down low (that’s my cool kid lingo right there), but I decided to do a new installment in the Adorkable world: Adorkablely Embarrassing Moments and Adorkable Assets. This week they both require photographic evidence of myself to believe … so sorry for the momentary narcissism. This post actually combines two things I’ve really wanted to add to the blog: my most embarrassing moments and the things I think are really cool right now so I want to share it with the bloggity world (like in last week’s blog post I talked about ColorMeKatie). The first new bloggity addition, my embarrassing moment of the week, is inspired by my day to day oopsies (yes I did just use that word), and the second, the things I love this week (I see them as assets ... get the name ;), is (are?) inspired by Post Picks, which are little blips the culture staff of the Post (my school newspaper and the staff I write for…woot woot) writes about where they just say what they like this week, these picks range from websites torompers to toilets…it’s a pretty bizarre combo. So now that the exposition is done, on to the main event!

Adorkabley Embarrassing Moment of the Week: Tie Dyed Hands and the Dean of Students (If this title doesn’t intrigue you, I don’t know what will).

(This picture was taken A DAY after I tie-dyed ... after I had showered ... these are clean in comparison!!) So basically, there was this event called Mess Fest, an event hosted by my and surrounding dorms to raise money for Relay for Life. The Fest basically consisted of tie-dying, rolling around in paint, and pizza. (Try not to be too jealous.) The net of it is, my hands were red …. Like, I-killed-a-person-it’s-freaking-engrained-in-there red, not just like oh-look-at-that-silly-girl-who-tie-dyed red. Then I had to cover the Pride Graduation for the Post (read my story on it here), a fancy event where everyone dresses up. My hands were still red despite 30 minutes of washing and even trying nail polish remover (I wouldn’t try it … doesn’t work and it definitely not good for skin).

And of course, who was at my table, but Dean Lombardi, Dean of Students, and at the neighboring table, the President’s wife, Deborah McDavis. HAH! Try explaining that one…oh I was tie-dying…no, I’m not four…no, I swear I tried to get it off my hands…yes, it does look like I’m bleeding. Not to mention, we ate dinner together. As in, my hands were on the table in front of them, no bars hold, gushing a nice shade of fuchsia…classy. Plus, the Post has a top 10 list, as a quasi joke quasi serious thing, of people not to embarrass yourself in front of if you can help it. They were both on it. I’m just a freshman and already I’m at 20%...I’m golden. All in all, I made a joke of it, and I got the dye off my hands today using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (not a joke … bought it at CVS… it so should not go on skin but it works) and painting my finger nails. In the end, the tie-dyed shirts are soooo worth it … they’re baller.

Adorkable Assets: Ridiculous Rain Gear

(Me in my yellow coat ... I am only sad, because it is raining, but I am happy on the inside because of my rain gear!!) This post is already getting long, but let me just say … everyone should own galoshes and ridiculous rain gear. My mother bought me a yellow raincoat, and it is the best article of clothing I own. It makes me look like a giant traffic cone, or maybe a traffic director. My temptation to jump into the street and direct cars randomly is high. (I won’t, however, because I value not getting arrested.) You can never lose me in crowd (even though when I am dressed this way you may want to), and in this ridiculous downpour, I am so dry. Plus, my umbrella is failing on one side, so I need it to not drown while walking to class. Go. Buy. Now.

Lesson to be learned: Attitude is everything, and being confident and amusing can get you out of most problems ... especially when you have to prove you didn't kill someone.

Well world, I hope you like the new blog set up…let me know what you think by leaving comments!! (I love comments … you should leave one … maybe tell me what you think I should write about in the future!!)

Red Handedly Yours,

Adorkable

She Don't Really Like it Working At a Desk: Living Creatively When I'm Unmotivated

Dearest Readers,

I was always the girl who was on top of things…to a freakish degree. I thrived in my over achieving dorkiness. But somehow, in the midst of spring quarter when the birds are chirping and friends from other colleges are headed home for good, I have lost my motivation. I can’t focus. I am spending the majority of my free time staring off into oblivion, watching an embarrassing musical television series, taking pictures, or making a fool of myself (oh wait that happens even when I’m not unmotivated … silly me.)

So basically this bloggity post is going to be about what I’ve found when I’ve been hopelessly devoted to being unmotivated. (see how I made a rhyme…clever). So here is what makes me smile when I am lacking motivation to work … I find it in the randomest things :).

This wonderful amazingly talented woman named Katie has this blog where she posts her pictures. Okay, I know what you are thinking, okay Adorkable tons of people take pictures whoop-dee-freaking do. Well “ColormeKatie” is one of the most creative photographers I have ever seen. The walls of her apartment are white, so that she can decorate them in colorful pieces of paper each day to whatever suits her fancy. An example of her art is her thought bubble project, where she creates thought bubbles, puts them on the walls outside, and catches people as they walk beneath them. She also has the shadow project, where she cuts out shadows peter-pan style and catches people as they walk into them. She has even made her apartment into a giant fort, a paper airplane palooza, and a colorful crazy spectacle. Now other than my long tirade about my love for her, she has these semi-regular post on her blog where she puts up 10 pictures or so of silly things that make her happy, which inspired me to take some pictures and do my own rendition of 4 silly little things that make me happy (cause 10 is too many photos for someone like me who has no clue what they are doing with the crazy camera contraption). And just to be clear copyright totally goes to this talented lady, and please peruse her photos at your les-ure. (Her significant other ‘Matty’ even works for improveverywhere…I want to be her…sigh.)

My 4 silly little things that make me happy:

A knobby tree

There is a lot of white space here...so I feel the need to babble about this tree. Really, I like it, because it looks like someone blazed a trail through the bark. Where it goes ... the world may never know ...

Slacklining (which is basically where you tether a line between two

trees and try to learn how to be

in the circus and walk across

the line....rest

assured I only do it leaning on

others I don't have that kind of balance....no way)

Shadows (from a fence to a hunched kid to a tree on some bricks)

Poop (tee hee hee...cause I'm mature)

This is on the wall of Bagel Street Deli here in Athens OH. It even has a smiley face between the os ... how could I resist this and call myself a real college kid?

Lesson To be Learned: Even the littlest things can brighten your day...if you look correctly (I know I know, I could write for Hallmark ... it's a gift I possess)

Photographically Yours,
Adorkable

ps. I hope you all realize I had no idea how to set up this page so I apologize for its foolish presentation

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!!!