These two years have flown by. I've covered meetings, parades, funerals and told the stories of some remarkable people. I've since left rural Ohio, stepped up to a bigger paper here in Shreveport.
In honor of this anniversary (you'll come to learn I recognize ANY anniversary and milestone...lol) I thought I'd make a list of why I love what I do.
Everything I love about writing, the freedom, the creativity involved and the satisfaction from a somewhat finished product, is often overshadowed by the process.
Though at times frustrating, annoying and completely nonsensical, I love my job, and here are some reasons why…
1. I’m always meeting new people.
2. I learn something new just about everyday.
3. Through my writing I’m able to teach something new just about
everyday.
4. Work has the possibility of being different everyday.
5. Being a journalist is like a license for being nosey. I can ask questions many don’t or
feel like they can’t.
6. The feeling I get when someone mentions how a certain story made them feel, how it helped them, or simply the fact that they remember it.
7. I have a desk at 222 Lake St. but really, my office is the city outside of The Times building.
8. I particularly love being a minority in this field and the fact that I can bring a certain perspective and vision to a newsroom that is lacking the diversity.
9. This may not be a good reason to some, but I love the fact that journalists are often local celebrities. The longer you’re at a paper, readers start to know you and expect certain things (quality, style, etc.) from you.
10. By telling other people’s stories, I’m able to learn more about myself and others which I think makes me more tolerant and understanding of things I’ve never experienced.
I could probably write a list just as long of why I’ve considered looking for a new job on a few occasions, but it’s always better to look at the bright side, right?
