Love at first listen

I melt for this man's voice. That is all.

Small wonder

I've been seeing journalism through several sets of eyes this past week. Being in the Daily Trojan office day in and day out has not only affected my lifestyle, but also the way I view so much of my work as a student, editor, journalist, writer. It baffles me to think that the words and ideas that start in my office every day at 5 p.m. (budget meeting time!) can actually impact so much of the campus, and further than that, the community at large.

When the L.A. Times is picking up some of our exclusive stories and my editors and I spend hour upon hour making sure that word phrases and quotes convey the message we want without creating cases for libel - that's when I really feel the weight of the paper and of the job. This isn't just a small publication to be read by students curious about changes to the dining halls - this is a full-fledged newspaper with depth and weight and pull in how the university is portrayed and how its students are treated.

I found out last week (on Inauguration Day, to be exact), that I didn't get an offer from Teach For America. And in all honesty, seeing that decision on the site and via email and then on the site again (I quadruple checked just to be sure I hadn't misread) really did sting. I wasn't so much taken aback about not getting the offer - I know the applicant pool was enormously competitive this year - it was more that I felt as though I had just plunged headfirst into a pool of icy cold water.

Reality check.

Something I had put some effort (but not my full effort) into hadn't panned out. And I didn't know how I should feel about that. I think all throughout the process, I had been more taken with the message of the organization than the actual work itself. In other words, I've always wanted to teach. To impart knowledge and, in turn, learn a few things myself. And I've always felt that a necessary part of graduating and entering the "real world" is giving back to the community - via service, donations, or conscientiousness. I just didn't know what my "method of payment" would be.

Therefore, Teach For America seemed like the natural fit.

What the rejection told me, however, was that this was not the case. Everything happens for a reason, and I'm taking this decision as a sign that I should seriously pursue journalism - that just might be the best way for me to make the difference and spread the message that I want to. Seeing how much feedback we get with the DT and how effective our stories can be has done two things for me:

1. terrified me, for fear of retribution after publication
2. inspired me, for knowledge that I can impact positive change doing what I love

I like to lean more toward the latter whenever possible. Naturally.

Last weekend, I spoke with my brother about my possible career in publishing and journalism. Based on his opinion, chasing after passions is a lot more rewarding than finding stability and forfeiting ambitions in the long run. In a time when the economy is so shaky and jobs so hard to come by, he said, carving your own path will probably lead you to more happiness than trudging along the road behind other similar-minded individuals.

Break free.

Yesterday, I taught my first class for community journalism, a course I'm taking this semester that brings USC journalists into the neighboring schools to produce a class "newspaper," complete with news, opinion, features, sports and entertainment desks. I was amazed at how much these sixth graders knew, and just how aware they were of themselves and each other. Each student talked about what he or she was interested writing, and the labels were clearly set: I like video games. I like American Idol. I like the Dodgers.

My little writers rattled off their favorite movies, games and celebrities, and asked honest questions, like "What will Obama do to keep his promises for the next four years?"; "Is the train line running by the school a villain or a hero?"; "What kind of relationship does Obama have with his family?"

These are all the same questions that we as journalists always ask, in less unnecessarily wordy, pretentious prose. It was interesting to see the dynamic of the students and really gauge their genuine curiosity about the things happening around them. That they really wanted to know the answer to those questions, while many college students don't care to ask them, was striking to me.

When did we start caring and stop asking?

And why?

The task falls to journalism nowadays, and so anyone who argues that journalism is a dying profession has obviously stopped desiring to learn, to be informed, to grow as a person.

After this past week, I'm seeing that my definition of journalism has become so limited. It's not about puting stories on paper and meeting deadlines. It's about childlike curiosity and the kind of assertiveness that sets off an entire chain reaction of events.

It's about action and reaction.

Live and learn.

At Last

I love them. A lot. Maybe too much.

Rest & Relaxation

Just got back from an amazing Daily Trojan retreat out in Palm Desert, and I'm feeling pretty dang refreshed. It's been a while since I've been able to literally sit and just vegetate without feeling any guilt whatsoever - and it's a feeling I think I'm going to chase in this coming semester.

Or, I mean, a girl can dream, can't she?

Time's going to fly in these coming months, I can already tell. Granted, I already feel as though I've been back in the groove of classes for some time, and I know 14 more of these weeks will whip by before I really have a chance to react, so I'm filling every moment with something meaningful - perhaps too well.

It's probably not the best thing when your fingers start itching to check email while you're sprawled out on a couch in a luxury home, thumbing through a magazine. Or when you jot notes for story ideas on your notepad while shopping for burger patties and chips. It's probably not healthy, maybe even borderline ridiculous, to mumble about lists and tasks in your sleep.

And yet, there it is: my waking hours and sleeping hours have merged to form a singular consciousness during which I plan and pace over a never-ending list of things to do.  

I think working is relaxing to me. Productivity is the key to my happiness. That, and cold leftovers and touching Christmas cards and gummi bears. I'm simple, really.

I find out tomorrow whether or not I've officially been accepted into Teach for America, so for the time being, I'm just savoring this limbo, this waiting period, and trying to relax. Tomorrow, no matter what the decision is, I'll have to buckle down and really start figuring out what I want to do with my days post-college.

Obama's inauguration speech is tomorrow morning, and I can't wait for the inspirational push I know he'll give our nation. Change never came about in times of comfort and ease, and I think Obama's perception of nonstop work toward progress as a positive thing rather than as a burden is admirable and should be touted as fact throughout the nation.  

I love rest and relaxation, but I'm ready to carry on with the rest of my life. Tomorrow's going to be a big day, and I think today's lull is something we'll be hard-pressed to find after tomorrow morning, so I'm savoring it.

One day DOWN

I'm officially done. With the first night of production for the Daily Trojan, that is. Everything ran as smoothly as I could have hoped, though we did run later than expected because we wanted to make sure that we set a high precedence at the beginning of the year in terms of clean copy, solid design and quality content. Given that this is the first time a lot of my editors have really used InDesign and actually worked together to produce an issue, I think it was a success.

The dynamic of my staff is just incredible as well - I know that I actually worried more about interpersonal relations when selecting my senior editors than competency. Not to say that I didn't take into account how news-savvy and organized they were, but I recognized that how their personalities fit in with everyone else's was going to make a world of difference for the tone of the semester. Working in good company makes life pretty dang good, even with late nights and constant tasks to take care of.

Dedicated, passionate people make me happy.

It's funny how different the start of this semester is compared to the start of the fall, when I was scrambling from one thing to the next, always feeling one step behind and failing miserably at life, etc. Though I know the semester ahead is going to be a crazy hectic one, I can already tell just from the first night that it will also be one of the best - not for the lasts that are requisite parts of senior year - but for all the firsts that I'll inevitably experience these next few months as I step into this very different realm of college.

I love change and renewing and beginning again, and I think holding this position this semester means that I'll always be learning something new - about the DT, about the campus, about the many students and the lives they lead during their four-year tenure at USC. It's so intriguing, and I just want to write write write about everything I learn.

Things always happen for a reason, and everything falls into place in due time. 

I hope it all works out.

My Time With You

How can you not be in a good mood after listening to this?

Not for profit

So I attended a freelancing workshop at the LA Times today, my first step toward pursuing my ambitions as a freelance journalist. I didn't know quite what to expect, whether this would be an informal gathering or a ridiculously formal networking opportunity, and so, armed with resumes and a notepad, I drove 10 minutes downtown to the imposing building and clacked my way across the front lobby to the press room on the first floor.

The other attendees represented a wide range of ages, experiences, and above all else, attitudes. It was easy to tell, based on the way that the other journalists interacted, who was there out of interest in the panelists' advice, and who was there solely for the sake of networking. A woman I befriended before the workshop began had been working as on-air talent in the Hong Kong market for seven years and had just recently moved back to the States in hopes of establishing her name here. Even so, though I knew that she was friendly because she was hoping to establish connections, her banter revealed that it wasn't the only reason why she was so conversational. 

Even with so much experience under her belt - she had worked for several different stations within the States prior to her move to Asia - she genuinely wanted to hear about my own experiences, my internships, the stories that I'd covered in my few measly years as a "journalist." It was refreshing to meet someone who really took to heart the idea that journalism, at its core, is about always learning and asking and  absorbing new ideas, not about competition and getting ahead and chucking other people under the bus if it meant getting the story.

I always feel pretty dang tool-ish at networking events, because though I know that the purpose is to establish connections with other writers, publicists and talent, I can't help feeling like I'm selling out a little bit every time I shake a new hand and talk about my accomplishments. It's not in the Asian American nature to toot your own horn, but in freelancing, it's really about branding yourself, your writing and your ideas, as well as acting as your own PR representative. All while staying grounded.

The panelists, comprised of freelance writers, videographers and editors, proved that it is possible to strike that happy balance, however. Albert Kim, who has written and acted as editor at Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Details, People and Entertainment Weekly, among other publications, was the most down-to-earth, normal guy I had ever met (relatively speaking, of course). He hasn't let success get to his head and is constantly on the lookout for the next step in his career - he's since switched careers to be a television writer.

What made these people so successful was that they kept their eyes on the goal and believed in the work they were doing, rather than doubting themselves and scuffling along just for the profit at the end of the day. They really believed in the story of the four-minute mile, of the British man who defied critics and ran a four-minute mile, and how, once that mental barrier was broken, tons of other people began to follow suit. The panelists talked about pushing past minor setbacks and temporary delays because the only thing that mattered in the end was having that final goal clearly imprinted in their minds' eye.

 

Suffice it to say, after today's panel, I walked away inspired. I really admire people who are able to make a living from freelance work - it speaks leaps and bounds of not only their writing skills, but also their people skills. I'm excited to get started.