Library Clerk by Day, Journalist by Night

I graduated from Howard University in 2006 with a bachelor of arts in Print Journalism. I minored in Political Science. A Few classes I took included: Reporting and Writing, Copy Editing, and Page Design, but more importantly I received wisdom from seasoned journalist. I received the the information and left school prepared to enter the workforce with a book of clips (articles written that had been published) to show as experience.

The Plan in the Beginning:

My original goal was to study journalism and political science in D.C, the political mecca of the nation and write political stories for student papers to build a repertoire of a political writer, but politics became boring to me and my ideas about life began to change.

The Plan in the End

I wanted to become a writer for magazines geared towards teens. During my senior year I was an Arts and Entertainment contributor for a student publication. At this point my plan was confused I knew what I wanted but wasn't working towards that well.

Upon graduating I had several job interviews with different publication in my home town and state, but never got the job in the end. At the end of the summer I found a job as a library clerk at a local college and this is where I have been for 3.5 years.

Someone would say: "That's not using your degree." I would say, "Yes and no." I would say no, because I don't have any writing assignments whatsoever, but that's why I write for Associated Content, but in my position I do use my degree in general aspects.

Working at a college library there are college students who always need help. While in college I was taught how to research very well, not just for news articles, but for research papers also. In college you write papers often and in my case as a journalism major I wrote all the time, so when students are working on papers and ask for help I have many tips that they can use from my experience with writing and professors. That may seem simple, but sometimes there is a student who is lost, they don't know what they are doing and need extra time and help. My time with them is well appreciated, and I understand because not too long ago (but long enough) I was there.

Journalism/writing is in my heart

I am troubled that I have difficulty in truly working in my field, but I realize journalism wouldn't be a piece of cake. Writing for Associated Content takes the edge off, meaning that spark I get from journalism can be satisfied through the website; plus it gives me the freedom to write what I want to write and in my style. I was also excited to be a featured contributor in Arts and Entertainment.

I honestly feel that I know the ends and outs of journalism, so I can't really be upset about where I am in my career, it's not like my current location is a media epicenter. During my time in college I wasn't very sure of just what I wanted to do, because if I had of known I wanted to write for teen magazines I would have applied to schools in New York City, or had I known the how devastated the print media industry would become due to the recession and on-line publications, I may have majored in web design at a Community College, but I didn't know these things, so I will continue to strive towards writing, whether it is reporting entertainment news, blogging or writing that novel to stretch my degree as far as it will go.