Enter my time at Conestoga College...
So I am sitting at home. It's spring 2014. And I'm talking to my Mom about what my next move is going to be. I knew I liked writing, but what could I do with that? And I knew I wanted to apply for something creative. I am scouring the list of courses on Conestoga's website and I come across Journalism Broadcasting AND Journalism Print. The difference between the two is one involved mainly tv/radio and the other involved newspaper writing. Trust me, the two writing styles are very different! Honestly, I was initially drawn to the print program first because I could have the potential to write really compelling pieces. But then I looked into the broadcast program more...and it looked...fun!! I have been self conscious my WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE, so here I was applying for a program that could eventually put me on TV in the future! I just went for it, and then cue my crazy dream...
I have always loved hockey. And throughout the years I gained quite the liking to the Montreal Canadiens. As I was thinking about what I could do with this diploma I thought, "maybe I could move to Montreal and work for a sports station and report on the Habs! Yup, that's my plan!" So I applied to the Journalism Broadcast Program.
Now, as any parent is, my Mom was concerned. This is a field that does not make a good starting salary, and room to grow takes a looooong time. But in the end, she supported my decision and in July I got my acceptance letter. I knew that I wanted a complete fresh start with this program, so I moved out of my parents house closer to campus into a 9 person home. Cue the day I met my boyfriend...
He remembers me moving in that September, I had a lot of guy friends come and help me move plus my best girlfriend at the time. He lived upstairs, I lived downstairs. He specifically remembers me and my girlfriend screaming at each other because she was throwing away some of my clothes! And he said to the rest of the house, "well that girl is going to be a lot of drama" lol! I will save the story of how Tyler and I got together another time, back to the academics!
My first year in the program was great! I met some really awesome people in my program and by the end of the year, I really found a love in the radio sector. My fantasy of moving to Montreal was halted, because I had found something that I thought I was really good in!
I entered my second year (2015/2016) confident in my skills and was ready to take on what was pushed in front of me. At this point, Tyler and I had started dating, and I was feeling so motivated to finish this program with flying colours. I began an extra curricular health and fitness segment that began airing on Rogers TV, I volunteered to stay late and learn about equipment and talk to my teachers, and most of all, I had fun with my class mates!
We are now into my final semester and I had just started interning at this small town radio station called Country 107.3 and Easy 101.3 in the newsroom. I was still producing the health and fitness segment, and I was confident I would get a job in the field after graduation. So I decided to ask the program coordinator for a letter of recommendation. Looking back on this story now, jeez did it ever light a fire under my ass...
When I went to ask my coordinator for the letter, he told me that my grades in first year were not good enough, that I have not proven myself in this program, and I do not have what it takes to be a journalist.
I was floored. I took on extra projects, I made honour role in both semesters of my second year, AND I was one of the only people in my class to be interning for a radio station! I decided that day I was going to prove him wrong. And I did.
I ended up winning The Weather Network's Award for "Best On Camera Presenter", as well as the CanadaFootballChat.com Award for "Best TV Sports Reporter" at my end of the year gala. I was offered a paid position in the newsroom at the station I interned for when I graduated and now I work full time for their sister station in London.
I am not writing this blog post to gloat, because in all honesty, my biggest accomplishment was the friends I made in this program. They are truly friends that I will have around for a long time, and I am even photographing one of their weddings next year!
I knew that spring in 2014 I made the right choice and I am so blessed for the amazing journey...but my creative passion was knocking on my door...I had an itch that I needed to scratch...so I decided to go back to school...
To be continued...