“If You Spend Too Much Time Thinking About a Thing, You’ll Never Get It Done”

The title of this blog could not be more accurate.  I’ve spent a lot of time sitting at my computer wondering how in the world I would start my next blog post and it’s taken me three weeks to get this far. I thought I would start by sharing some exciting news; I’m now a full time blogger for William and Mary!  Originally, I was simply a summer time blogger, writing about my experiences in Washington, DC while sitting on my patio watching people hurriedly walk to the metro in their heels.  I got a little caught up in the hustle and bustle of the city and forgot to write a “farewell DC” blog post, so I thought I would do that now.

Spending the summer in Washington, DC was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had, and I promise I’m not just saying that to get brownie points with the William & Mary DC Office.  This summer I got to peer into the life of a post-graduate (or what I like to refer to as a “real person”) and get to know more about what I want to do with my life.  Here’s what I learned:

1. I could never do a desk job.  Ever.
   Don’t get me wrong, I loved my internship this summer but working at a desk all day seemed very restricted to me.  I want to be able to have a little bit more freedom with what I do in the future.  Working at a desk some of the time wouldn’t be all that bad but 40 hours a week might be a little much for me.
2. I want to be in a fast paced environment
   Working in a slow paced environment definitely had its perks.  There were days where I could take extra time for work or where I could just mosey about the office and chat with co-workers about their experiences at HPRC, but that’s not really the environment I’m looking for.  I work well (and, dare I say, even like working) under pressure.  I’ve always felt I do my best work when there’s a close deadline.  I don’t find it stressful but I take it on as a challenge, and who doesn’t like a challenge?
3. I want to have lots of travel opportunities
   I’ve always thought travel would be a great way to see the world and experience different cultures.  Part of the reason I’m a sociology major is because I’m so intrigued by other societies and culture.  If traveling is part of my future career I know I’m sure to love it.
4. I want to write
   I’m one of those people who loves writing absolutely anything.  A letter, a short story, even an essay, I just love putting words on paper (or, in this case, on virtual paper).

Taking this list into consideration I decided that I want to go into journalism.  This discovery was part of what made my summer so amazing.  If it wasn’t for the opportunities the DC Office provided me with I honestly don’t think I would have come to this conclusion during college or felt so sure of it.  My favorite part of my internship was when I got to write posts for the HPRC website and my favorite part of the New Media Institute was when we visited news/journalism outlets.  I know this may sound like a cheesy line from a Lifetime movie or something the school asked me to say, but it’s not.  Joining the DC Summer Institute didn’t just give me great experiences in our nation’s capital, it gave me insight into what I want to do with my future.

*Title quote by Bruce Lee