This would be the headline of my story this week if one were to be written about me. I would be the freshman, and I would have some great quotes that sound very intelligent. Something like…
“It feels great to see my name in print, even if it is a college newspaper,” said freshman journalism major Maureen Quinlan. “Everyone has to start somewhere.”
If you haven’t guessed already, this week I had my first experience as a real life journalist. I was working under deadline and felt all the pressure and stress of being a journalist.
As much as I was stressed and complained about it, I loved it. It felt exhilarating to not know if I was going to finish my story. It felt great when I got the interview I didn’t think I would. It felt amazing to talk to someone I had never met before for a quote. It felt great to see my name next to an article. It felt good to get constructive criticism.
It didn’t feel so great when I saw 50 percent of my story cut, but I understand. At least my story made it in the paper.
I wrote a story for last week’s issue, but because of space issues, it didn’t make it in. Never fear, this week it is in the Inside section where it belongs. That just means I got a double byline this week.
I felt incredibly grown up walking from place to place, getting interviews, and writing my story between classes. I felt like a real journalist.
When I realized I hadn’t started a story I was assigned a week ago, a classic Maureen freak-out began in my small dorm room. But after taking a few deep breaths, I remembered something. Isn’t this what I want to do with the rest of my life? I want that last minute assignment that goes on the front page because I got the story done in a day.
With a little encouragement from my best friend, Jenna, I decided to stop freaking out and just do it. I did that and was a lot less stressed as I put words on the page.
More than anything this week I proved to myself that I could do this. I really can do anything I put my mind to. I can be a journalist.
So check out my stories for the student newspaper, The Huntington News. My story about Alcohol Week and a story about the vintage travel poster exhibit at the Boston Public Library.
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