When I'm 33...

by - July 01, 2010

Jessi over at musings of a wannabe star gave me the You're going places award yesterday. If you're not already following her blog, you should go do that now. She is seriously a talented writer and has such a great sense of who she is, which is awesome!

The rules of this award are for me to describe where I'll be, what I'll be doing, etc. in the next decade and then pass the award along. We all know how I feel about that last part...

So where do I see myself in 10 years? This is the kind of question you get asked at job interviews, you know big-girl job interviews. The ones where you get dressed up, update your resume and have a folder full of samples to show your new potential boss.

I remember the last time I was asked this question. It was the day after I graduated college. I was at my first real job interview. It was for a sports co-editor position on a medium-sized newspaper in north Georgia. I was incredibly nervous and when the interviewer posed this question, I had no idea how to answer. I think I mumbled something about having advanced further into my journalistic career, possibly moving up the ladder at his paper to a more prestigious editor position or moving onto my second or third job. At any rate, I didn't get the job.

Now I'm 23-going-on-24 years old, working at my first big-girl journalism job that just so happens to be on the opposite end of the spectrum of what I always thought I'd be doing at this point in my life. The print industry, you see, is struggling. All the layoffs have made it nearly impossible for someone who's fresh out of college to get a job, no matter how talented they are or how much potential they possess.

Ten years from now I'll be in the first stage of my 30s, and considering the path my life has taken I honestly don't know where I'll be. Can I see myself continuing to work in my current career? Absolutely. But at the same time, I long for the good ol' days of print journalism. Not that I've given up that world entirely. I still do a little freelancing on the side and keep up with my blog, which if you haven't noticed is completely print journalism in its style.

So, 10 years from now where will I be? I honestly don't know what opportunities are going to knock on my door. Does the path of my future lead down a broadcast journalism route, or is this only a detour? Perhaps I've found my calling as a producer. I really do enjoy the work, after all, but maybe my work here will open up a door that leads me back into the realm of print where my heart has always lied. Or maybe in the next decade there will be a balance of both journalistic realms, and I'll have my foot in both.

Only time will tell. All I truly know is that I'm excited to see the outcome.

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4 comments

  1. oh, that 10 year question! i have NO IDEA where i will be in 10 years! who does? i guess that question is supposed to motivate us to dream and to plan. so i better get on it. :)

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  2. Congrats. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get whatever it is you want 10 years from now.

    10 years from now, I'll be 38. I hope I'm married by then. Haha.

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  3. @Island Gal: Thank you!

    @drollgirl: I guess so, but half the time I think that question scares us into the realization that we really have no idea!

    @Gnetch: I didn't even think about marriage when I wrote this, haha.

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  4. I loved this :) But it makes me so worried - being a journalism major! Great post though <3

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