You thought you were walking into a major that was fun and thrilling and maybe included some on-air time, but there were some things that you didn't actually expect. For example:.
1. Where is the coffee?
If you didn't like coffee before, I bet you do now. Late nights have become a regular thing and you reach the point of drinking the worst tasting coffee just to keep you up so you can edit your last project. It's alright, though, we are adrenaline-based people, so why not make the heart race at two in the morning, right?
2. Your life is a deadline.
Deadlines, deadline, deadlines. You are constantly under a deadline. The day you think you have nothing due or no stories to submit, you are wrong. Sometimes it is purely a regret to even look at your email because you know that there is going to be something there that needs to be completed ASAP.
3. Get your glasses.
No matter who you are or what part of JMC you are in, you are conditioned to look at your computer or phone constantly. But as a journalism major, you don't have time to have tired eyes, so whip out the glasses! Just call us four eyes!
4. You never knew what it would be like trying to get an interview.
You never thought that getting an interview from someone would be quite the process, especially getting them from students. I remember loving being asked to do an on-camera interview at high school sporting events, but when you put your camera in front of a college student, the tables turn, and it can sometimes be the equivalent to pulling teeth. You learn the best places to get the interviews fast, efficiently, and what type of student likes the camera.
5. Make-up... what is that?
You would think that as a journalism major, you would always need to look nice and put-together. That is the furthest from the truth. You thought you would be glowed up every day for class and look nice walking into the news room, but nope, all-natural over here. No makeup, no shoes, no shirt, and still no problem.
6. Getting stressed Sunday night because your planner shows a packed week.
You never thought that your agenda would be your best friend, but without it, you would be lost. On Sunday night you thank yourself for filling in you schedule with important assignments, but it makes you stressed when you realize everything that needs to be done and the week hasn't even started yet.
7. You never expected to learn so much in such little time.
You come to college eager and excited to start a path to your dream career, but what you failed to realize was how fast you would be learning. As a JMC major, you are essentially thrown in with the wolves, and if you survive, you found the major for you. You have good and bad days, of course, but when you look back at where you were a year ago, you would never thought you would have become this well-rounded in your field.
8. You are always running.
You realize how much time you don't have, and when you have those three minutes, those three minutes are dedicated to food, sleep, sending a quick text, or just clearing your mind. We picked a field that is very fast-paced, and not only are you moving constantly, but your mind is going a mile a minute.
9. You had no idea how busy you would be.
You thought you would have a lot of free time to hang out with friends, but nope. That is not the case, but you found the friends that accept you for you and will hang out with you during the only five minutes you have for the day. You may lose friends because they can't accept your schedule, but realize that you are coming closer and closer to doing what you want to do for the rest of your life, and you don't need people who won't support you.
10. The value of a nap.
Life is crazy in JMC, and naps are very few and far in between, because there is simply no time. But when there is, you know that your slumber is about to be absolutely amazing. You crawl into your bed, pull the sheets up, and take a deep breath. Off to sleep you go and not a worry crosses your mind. Just you, your bed, and relaxation.
