As soon as I tell friends, family and strangers I’m pursuing a journalism degree, the first question is always, “Why are you doing that?”
Although my answer always speaks to how exciting the field can be, it’s a combination of little things that make every single day worthwhile.
Whether it’s the elation of finishing an excellent interview, working with a number of talented writers or sharing a beautiful story with the community, working as a journalist is full of rewarding experiences.
Throughout my three years at Mount Royal University in Calgary, I wrote stories about everything from vinyl records to innovative school programs in Texas. Each day presented a unique chance to learn about the city I grew up in.
When I found out that Rocky View Publishing was hiring a student for the summer, the opportunity to learn about a new city and its surrounding communities was something I had to pursue.
As I write this, I’m nearly a week into my internship, but it feels like a long time in the best way possible.
Practically speaking, I’m learning about how a newsroom operates. More importantly, I’m working in a collaborative and often hilarious environment, featuring debates on topics like ordering a glass of milk at a restaurant.
While I value a good sense of humour, I also admire the professionalism and talent exhibited by my fellow reporters. It gives me something to aspire to and hopefully some brownie points.
I’m looking forward to covering a variety of topics this summer, but writing about music is my specialty since I have absolutely no musical talent of my own.
I currently write album reviews for BeatRoute, one of Western Canada’s largest music magazines. Some of my favourite artists include Modest Mouse, Kanye West and Nicolas Jaar, but it’s the local artists that often have the best stories.
I’m not pursuing journalism to only write about the topics I love. Instead, I want to discover other interests I may fall in love with.
All this being said, journalism, like any other field, is far from perfect. Deadlines can be stressful and sometimes your life orbits around other people getting back to you on time, but that’s just the way it works.
I think the most important part is appreciating all of the little things that you love, and I plan on enjoying every minute of my time here.
