My family moved around Alberta a number of times before finally settling down in Airdrie when I was five.
Airdrie has been my home for the vast majority of my life, and I feel a certain fond affection for the little (but growing) city just north of Calgary.
Throughout my years in Airdrie I’ve heard a lot of my peers and friends complaining about how there is nothing to do in Airdrie and that they can’t wait to move away to some bigger city.
I honestly couldn’t disagree with them more. Airdrie is a very nurturing and supportive community, a perfect place for imaginative young kids to play and grow. It has been a great pleasure growing up here.
So I’m both honoured and pleased as punch to be able to give something back to the community as an intern at the Airdrie City View.
I’ve always had more of an inclination towards writing, finding more excitement in doing research papers and telling stories than any other subject in school. In fact, it has long been a dream of mine to be a published author one day. I’m still working on that, but I’ll get there eventually.
It seemed natural when I graduated from St. Martin de Porres High School in 2010 to keep on the path of writing as I considered my future.
I moved on to SAIT Polytechnic, where I am currently in my second year and final semester, studying for a diploma in journalism arts. It’s been rough having to drive in to school every day, through snowstorms and Deerfoot Trail traffic jams, but I couldn’t bring myself to move away from my hometown just yet. Even if it would save me a lot of money on gas. Besides, I know I’m not the only one making the trip every day.
When I was told I’d have to complete a practicum for my course, Airdrie was the first place I looked. Not only would the commute be substantially shorter, but I’d also be able to get involved in my hometown community, and give back to the town that raised me so well.
I’ll only be staying with the Airdrie City View and Rocky View Weekly for a month, but I want to make sure over the next four weeks that this is a fun and interesting learning experience for both me and all the readers I’ll be serving.
It’s my hope that through this experience I’ll learn more about the people and core of the community, and maybe pick up a few good writing tips along the way.
I look forward to getting to know many more people around the city and learning all sorts of new things about Airdrie. This city is full of interesting people and events, after all.
It’s my promise as a budding writer and journalist to do my utmost to keep every reader and resident in the loop with things concerning our fine city, and I will always give my very best to every project I tackle. I know you all deserve no less than that.
It’s going to be a pleasure working with you, Airdrie.
