A Dream Come True

I remember that day like it was yesterday.

“No later than 5 o’clock,” they said. So I open my email at 5:01 exactly and see an email with a single word in the subject line that would change my future as I knew it: “Congratulations.”

As of March 28, 2013, I am a University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications, telecommunications student, with a concentration in news broadcasting. It truly has been one of the best experiences of my life. (That’s a pretty melodramatic statement, but it’s entirely true).

Living the life of a journalism student at UF has completely redefined the characteristic of being passionate. I mean, these students are so dedicated to their work that they put their social life on hold weekend after weekend for success. Every story and every student project gets better and better, as every student slowly learns the trade of being 21^st century journalists.

Faculty

Student success is made possible with the assistance of faculty who continually push each student to their limit, accepting nothing but the best. Expectations in the J-school mirror those found in the real world; not a single moment is wasted or taken for granted. The faculty therefore expects nothing but greatness upon graduation.

INR and CMIR

But truly no student success would be possible without access to top-notch university facilities! Students work half or full-day broadcast shifts in the Integrated News Room and the Center for Media Innovation and Research to become more familiar with 21st century broadcast technologies and to develop new communication strategies in which to broadcast news. 

“There are a few provisos, a couple of quid-pro-quos…”  -Genie from Aladdin

I recognize that I sound like a tour guide to UF’s J-School, so let me add a disclaimer: living the life of a UF journalism student has its many rewards, but those rewards haven’t come easily. There were times when I lacked any sort of confidence, when my work was labeled as simply “useable,” and when I counted down the minutes to my 5 o’clock shift end.

Working so closely with professors in the news facilities completely broke me down. But within one semester’s time, it built me back up as a stronger and more confident journalist - something in which I'm forever grateful. 

So what's it like to be a journalism student at UF, you ask? 

It's a learning experience,

            a media workplace opportunity,

                        a dream come true.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.”

-Colossians 3:23