But I wasn't mature enough to realize what that meant for my life. I actually wanted to be the next Diane Sawyer. I would watch GMA every morning before school and just be in awe of how something could be so well put together. (Mind you this was before Ryan Gosling and Channing Tatum got too famous)(And yes, I'm talking about how a television show can be so put together, not Ms. Saywer). Television was remarkable. And all I knew was how to be "talent" and write a script for our 10 minute show "Jay Today". But it was remarkable.
I went to Indiana Wesleyan University as a Media Communication major. I was on top of the world. I was awesome. Everyone thought my major was cool (And so did I, if we're being honest). Nurses are boring, teaching wasn't for me - but television, I could do that. For someone who didn't like her picture taken, hated her own voice and didn't really have a sense of anything, but humor, I don't know why I ever thought I'd want to be on television.
So I started working at WIWU TV as a Communications Lab - TV student. I learned how to wrap cables and set up a camera. I learned how to be the pion who just watched and learned. Totally admiring all the staff (Station staff and Student leadership staff). And suddenly, behind the camera was much more appealing than in front. Then, they let me do video packages for their weekly news show, Crossroads. That was tons of fun. And I got to set up cameras and run camera at home games for our IWU teams. That was so cool! I had so much opportunity knocking at my doorstep, I didn't know what else to do.
Then, I formed a plan…naturally.
I was going to work for the station my sophomore year, then become just a student production assistant my junior year, then I could take over Crossroads as a senior. Shooting packages was so fun. I was learning to write and edit and shoot and interview. It was still only a matter of time before I met Fate.
I was then thrown into the world of sports. Sports had never been part of my family bonding, but we played them and I knew how they worked. I was in pep band so had to attend a lot of the games. I just kind of fell in love. Then with running camera (and even being able to do some replay) I fell more in love. I met so many people who were fanatics and I became interested. So, when the Sports Associate leader asked me to start helping her with our weekly coach's show, I couldn't say no. I was writing script, doing feature packages, sitting in the control room for games, I was hooked.
So, for the next two years, I took the Sports Associate position. I had AMAZING teams of people who pulled their passions and talents together to make it work. But, what I loved the most was the producing. The planning and the strategy. I loved being able to build relationships with my team, profs, bosses, coaches, athletic director, and everyone else. I loved being able to put my people skills together to produce something I loved and something I was proud of. All that while, I was following my dream.
Then, it came the time when all that I learned and loved had to get shoved out the door and forced into the real world. That's where I am now. I'm finding that love and that passion again. Finding what out "here" matches up and gives me the joy I had in "there".
I think it'll be fun to work in sports again. It's thriving. It's energetic. It's intense. But, above all, it's what I love. And televising sports would just bring that all together.
Right now, I'm working as an Office Production Assistant at a small television production company in Minnesota. My eyes have been opened. I've learned so much more than I ever thought possible. I am seeing what all is out there. I'm exploring.
These last 7 months since graduation have been a whirlwind. I've moved. Found a new church. Found new friends. Expanded professionally and personally. Now, I just have to get off my butt and find my dream again. There's something out "here" for me. And I will find it. And I won't give up until I have.
