The summer break is pretty much over, and I'm diving into my last year of journalism school.
Time has really zoomed by, but I can't help but feel super excited about what's coming my way.
At first, saying goodbye to summer vacation and heading back to school felt a bit scary. But now, I'm actually pretty pumped to see what options are waiting for me once I graduate.
Almost four years ago, I took a big leap of faith and left my job to start this whole school adventure. Looking back, I can see that my parents were right – they always said I should've gone to school sooner. But you know what? I'm proud of myself for making that choice when I did. It's seriously been the best decision ever!
As I sit down to write this column, it hits me that this might be one of the last times I contribute while I'm still an intern – maybe even my very last. I'm feeling a mix of excitement and a bit of sadness as I think about leaving behind this part of my life that's helped me grow in so many ways.
I've got to admit, thinking about graduation and the real world sometimes makes it hard to focus on the year ahead. But I'm genuinely excited about the classes I'll be taking and the projects I'll be working on. I'm especially looking forward to the climate change reporting class – it sounds really interesting. There's a whole bunch of new things I want to learn.
Something I really like about being a student is the constant adventure of discovering new things. School and reporting have something in common – they both keep me curious and wanting to know more.
Even though the first two years got a little crazy with the pandemic, my time at university has been pretty incredible. It's been even better than I thought it would be. Going to school has introduced me to so many amazing people, and I've learned so much about the world because of it. Every class, every chat, every project – they've all shaped the way I see things and showed me how I can contribute, making me a more well-rounded person.
Of course, there have been some tough times along the way. But with every challenge, I've become stronger and better at handling whatever life throws at me. All the skills I've picked up during these years of digging into journalism will help me as I move forward into my career.
As I head into the last part of this school journey, I'm feeling a mix of happiness, nostalgia remembering the good times, and some feelings of nervousness about what's next. This year is like the big finale of my learning adventure-- a way to celebrate how much I've grown.
After that, I'll be stepping out into the world with a bunch of new experiences and ideas, ready to tackle whatever comes my way.
