Emily's WJMC Blog

I sit here today feeling like everything is a little bittersweet. I’m happy to be returning home to see my real family (not my WJMC one) and friends and catch up on what has happened in their lives while I’ve been away. In addition, I’m excited to be able to sleep a bit more and be able to relax throughout the day. I’m saddened, however, by the fact that I will be leaving an experience of a lifetime. This past week has been one of the best weeks in recent memory. Not only did I meet incredible people who I hope to never forget, but also I learned a lot about my myself and my future. Each day brought something new, be it a new friendship or piece of advice, which has helped to shape me into a better person. I learned that journalism is truly something I have a passion for and would like pursue in the future, but I also realized that it will take a lot of work and perserverence to get me there. I’ve found that having an open mind and just being yourself will really get you far in this world, as I’ve made friendships here very easily that way. Thus, I am sad to see this week come to a close. I will greatly miss everyone, especially Tyler, Jessica, Marcheta, Squirrel, Mr. Smith, and the rest of my family, but I know that because of them and the rest of this week, I will be a stronger, better person in the future. So with that, HELLO MINNESOOOOOOTA! I’ll miss you WJMC!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from the WJMC, it is that my group is my family. Throughout almost every activity thus far, we have bonded and worked together to build a united family. With Mr. Smith (aka Dad) as our trusty leader, we have faced the rigors of learning to be a journalist in Washington D.C. while dealing with a severe lack of sleep and a very busy schedule. Our family has been through some pretty crazy times in the past few days. We have had quite the debate over what camping supplies were essential for our descent down a mountain in a oncoming snow storm, ventured throughout the Newseum and the Smithsonian Museums, sang songs on the bus, and toured the Capital. All the while, the family has stuck together and really bonded. I’ve loved how welcoming and friendly everyone is. I’m really said to leave tomorrow because I will really miss the people I’ve met here. My newly acquired family from across the country will surely be missed! I’ve even acquired a southern accent from spending so much time with my new friends. The people I’ve met here have really opened my eyes to the diversity in America; yet, it also has shown me that people can easily overcome their cultural, racial, or social differences and become great friends. The unique traits we brought to the group made us stronger as a whole because we emcompassed so many different areas of the social spectrum. I will really miss my family and all the people I’ve met here at the WJMC. Hopefully our family reunion in good ol’ South Carolina can become a reality! I LOVE MY DAD! YEAH! YEAH! YEAHHHHHHH!!!!

My report on the shooting on Capitol Hill based on the student media workshop!

     After a short, uneventful flight, I arrived at George Mason University-host the of the 2009 Washington Journalism and Media Conference-ready to explore journalism in a unique way. I hoped to meet new people, develop my skills as both a writer and speaker, and have a great time; however, the first day alone has been an experience far beyond that. Not only did I already meet students across the nation who expanded my knowledge of both my nation and journalism, I  met experienced adults who are currently successful in journalism and the media.
     One of the most spectacular things about today was the sheer excitement the WJMC correspondents shared. Each has an incredible passion for something in their life, be it journalism or something else, and from that, I learned the great diversity that resides in my own nation. Not only do we come from different places, but also we come from different cultures-complete with unique phrases, strange accents, and different activitites. Numerous conversations sprung up today regarding a funny name for this or that and surprise towards the fact that I as a Minnesotan participate in sports on snow! In addition, I learned many new areas to explore in the journalism field based on others’ interests. I expanded my knowledge regarding the future of journalism and how to be apart of it from conversations I already had today. Along with this, I learned a lot from a speaker we had tonight.
     Another incredible learning experience I had today was from Brian Lamb, one of the founders of C-SPAN, who spoke to us in a unique way. Rather than force information and his opinions down our throats like many speakers do, Mr. Lamb gave us a chance to talk about what we believed journalism was and where we thought it was going. While I do wish he would have incorporated more of his own ideas into the process, I still believe it was a very effective and captivating way to open the conference. I gained new insight into the various areas journalism covers by hearing students’ responses to his questions, and I enjoyed hearing an experienced journalist answer questions from the students. Furthermore, I appreciated how he understood that we are the future of journalism so he geared the presentation towards concepts and devices that my generation embraces. Things like facebook, twitter, and iPhones were not items he shied away from; rather, Mr. Lamb showed how they may become-or are already becoming-the future of journalism.
     Overall, my first day here was an incredible experience. I came here with an open mind, ready to meet new people and explore journalism, and this conference has already stretched that. I learned about new areas of journalism, experienced the way different parts of the country live, and reached outside my comfort zone. It has been a great experience and I cannot wait for it to continue!

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