A wonderful day requires a wonderful morning. I had just that yesterday morning.
I got up yesterday morning at 7:45am (later that I planned) and went with my nana to walk with an elderly man who’s a veteran of the coast guard and former preacher, in the mall before store hours. My nana has started to take this man walking at the mall every Tuesday and Thursday morning. It’s a wonderful and generous thing for her to do this for him. I told her I wanted to meet him, so yesterday morning I planned to come along with them. The only trouble in getting to know each other was that we’re both a little shy at first meetings. But as we sat at a bench my nana told him I wanted to be a journalist, which then led him to ask me what makes me want to be a journalist. That’s what kick-started our conversation. At first I found it hard to pinpoint a specific reason, but after discussion I realized it myself. My nana brought up the earthquake in Haiti and how much that disaster affected me, and affected us all. It’s the power to give those people a voice and gather the attention and help they need through reporting that make me love journalism. Without it, how would we know what we know? But still, like anything we love, it’s hard to give a reason why. My nana is my #1 supporter and believer, and now I have another in this old man I just met yesterday morning. It was the extra boost of confidence and support I needed.
Cary Skelton, please let me introduce myself to you.
My name is Amy, and I live in Alabama. I’m a seventeen-year-old with big dreams of the city. You and I share the same dream of becoming a journalist. I shall start by saying what sparked my interest. One of the summer nights before I began my junior year of high school I was watching NBC Nightly News. I enjoyed watching it because I was intrigued about the events going on in the U.S. and throughout the world. While the news was on my mom inquired about why I was watching it, and then she suggested I pursue a career in journalism. From that moment on.. the thought stuck like glue.
It was because I was, in high school, so young that I didn’t exactly know what to do. For that matter, who was going to take me seriously? I haven’t been aggressive enough to run with my dream.
Secondly, the thought of the unkown terrifies me. It would take someone yearning for adventure to become a journalist. Not to mention the audacity required to go into a field viewed critically. My family hasn’t supported the idea of journalism because it doesn’t pay well. Everyone has to start somewhere. I was planning on ending in the GE Building of the Rockefeller Center. Exactly where you want to I imagine. You’re lucky. You have support. I don’t have that foundation. Hence, this is why my big city dream is deteriorating.
So there I was, a high school kid devoting time watching the news as if it were worship in a religion. My mom often teased me about my abnormality. The teasing became serious when I informed her that I truly did want to become a journalist. She didn’t support the idea anymore once she accepted that was what I wanted to do with my life. I started reading Brian’s blogs on the NN website, and that only further developed my dream. After awhile I noticed that you posted comments almost every night. You really put yourself out there, and I knew there was something to it. Before you realized it, I knew you, too, had a passion for becoming a journalist.
I enjoyed reading your posts. However, I was a bit envious because you were already taking the steps toward our dream career. I intended to do the exact same thing, but then again what would a sixteen-year-old have good to say? So, you should find comfort in knowing that you haven’t wasted any time because you didn’t watch NN in high school, just sayin’.
First, it takes a ton of courage to put your thoughts out there for people to have the opportunity to judge. Who cares what people think anyway, except Brian Williams.
I am proud of you. It pleases me to know that someone else is progressing in their dream. I’m afraid I won’t be able to try a go at mine. No matter how possible, my dream is improbable. I don’t want any regrets though. I suppose I could become a teacher like my great-grandfather always said I would, or give a go to the hectic life of nursing like my mother. I’m about to start college in the fall, and I am completely confused about what to do.
In other news, I’ve been meaning to contact you for some while now. I wanted you to know there’s someone else out there in the world like you. At least that’s what I’ve always wanted to know. I hope that you will email me, please do. I’d love to chat with you. Great job on getting a blog site up, it is a wonderful idea.
Thank you so much for your message, Amy. Let me know if you get my e-mail.
Take care! Keep your chin up!
-Cary