A is for Andrew, B is for Bold, and C is for …

Career crisis?!

Okay, maybe crisis is a strong word – truth be told, I was looking for a little alliteration!

But I’ve realized that … traditional journalism just isn't for me.

Frankly, I can’t see myself doing it anymore. Having to stand outside a courtroom or police station waiting for a press conference where I have to fight with other people to ask questions just isn't my sort of thing. And I just can’t seem to write the way journalists do – I’m definitely not objective enough and it takes me forever to get to the who, what, when, where, why, and hows of a story.

I definitely feel as though I’m leaning more towards creative writing – think screenplays, television shows, and books. And it has been interesting though coming to this conclusion – ironically, half way through a double master’s degree in journalism!

It’s not like I woke up and decided journalism wasn’t for me, but it has been a nagging feeling in the back of my mind for a while. It's something I thought about before which is why I applied and was accepted into a television writing and producing program at the same time the Erasmus Mundus program came along.

Of course, as they say, the grass always looks greener on the other side … but I often wonder where I’d be had I enrolled in that course.

Would I be saying that I can’t see a career in creative writing? Would I look at journalism as a way to salvage my disdain for television writing?

I really don’t know. But point is, I’ve realized my passions lie elsewhere – not that this is the first time though. When I was in grades 9 and 10, I wanted to be a meteorologist and then all of a sudden, in grade 11, I decided working in the media was for me. And we won't even go into the part of me that has always wanted to be a high school media studies teacher.

But anyways, enough about that … so what’s going on here?

Well, for starters, I’m home in about 4.5 weeks. It’s amazing how quickly time has flown by in Amsterdam – it seems like just yesterday I dragged my jet-lagged, Starbucks-craving self off the plane at Schiphol.

Sad news, but my acting class is officially over*

*Cue the single tear I’ve been working on and am actually quite good at!*

This was my first weekend without it and I’ve got to say it felt sort of strange.

Anyways, the second half-term module, The Politics of News, is underway. And yes, for all those York students I took communication studies with, this is the … uhh … third class I’m taking that has that title.

I’m trying a new strategy in this class that I’m hoping pays dividends. I’ve always said one of my best skills is my ability to read people and make solid judgments of character – and I think I’ve read the professor well and determine what works and what doesn’t.

Looking back, I actually think I wasn't on my game during our first course. It's like I let someone knock me off my game and cloud my people reading skills ....

And speaking of the first course, remember how I said that the battle cries have ended? Perhaps I spoke a little prematurely.

They came back in full force recently – mostly because I had requested a full grade breakdown and saw that I got 7.5 out of 10 for class participation!

What’s up with that!?

7.5 for class participation. How can I not score the highest – I’m always talking!

I talk so much that I’m pretty sure that everyone I’ve ever spoken to in my life has at one point or another secretly wished I’d shut up! They’re probably just too nice to say it to my face!

And it’s nothing against the people in my class, but seriously, I spoke and offered my insights a lot more than many of the people who scored a 5.

So, I'm heading to battle over that portion of the grade – frankly, it’s not about the grade, but the principal of the matter. And I suspect why I got that grade I did - seeing their response will let me know if my intuition is true.

And lastly, I thought I’d share with you my new favourite word of the month … unprofessional.

Everything these days is unprofessional. I find it’s an adjective I can use in pretty much every situation. You know, like ...

Late trains are unprofessional.
Long lines at the grocery store are unprofessional.

And my all-time favourite ...

People who arrive late to class ... soooooooo unprofessional!*

*Of course, that’s accompanied by an eye roll and a long mmmmhmmm!*