Maybe I don’t necessarily laugh when I look back on my time as a journalism major, but at least I found a “looking back” quote.

All snarkiness aside, I have learned a thing or two about journalism.  They’re not even technically technical.  They are, however, things I’ll use the rest of my life.

Don’t be tentative.
I’ve realized that I have to grab that proverbial bull by his horns and just do it.  I’m not going to get anywhere or get anything done by being scared.  I went into an interview I was conducting for a project and walked out with an internship I didn’t apply for.  I interviewed the New Media/Website Director for the Vancouver Canucks.  What do I have to be afraid of?

Make sure you love what you do.
Maybe this isn’t about style or anything like that, but it’s a fact.  If you hate what you do, you won’t put the time into it.  If I were writing fashion articles (Abbey and Ashley — no offense), I’d hate everything about journalism.  I’d hate the long hours and lack of sleep.  Makeup I would enjoy.  Sports are my passion.  Even within sports I have preferences.  If you love what you do, it never feels like work.  (This is why I don’t mind eight-hour days at the arena — it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life.)

This isn’t my first rodeo with EL200.  I know what to expect.  I know I’ll get frustrated.  This time, though, I’m looking to gain a better awareness for everything going on around me and a better sense of when to say, “What I’m doing can wait” to better help others.  We have to work together.

In connection to that, I’m looking to bring some veteran leadership to EL200 along with experience to help better the paper and the new magazine.  I want to make sure that I can help the underclassmen see that in the end, journalism is worth it.  (Even if I sometimes want to repeatedly punch myself in the face due to frustration.)

It gets better, kids.  Hang in there.