Last Thoughts on My Last Day

Today was my last day at the Kokomo Tribune. I arrived on my usual time, wrote the best bets for Friday, and worked on the answer book before calling it quits and heading home. As I walked down the stairs for the last time a thought occured to me, now that I don't have my internship, and I haven't gotten a call back from either of the places I applied to, I have nothing. Even though it wasn't a job, and I didn't get paid, the internship felt like I was doing something with my college degree. Now that it is over, I will have to wait to get a job in order to write or edit again, and that may take some time considering it took three weeks to find out I didn't get either of the jobs I applied for. It could be months or years until I work for a paper or publishing company. In the meantime, I'll have nothing to make me feel like a writer or a success. I should have left feeling more confident and accomplished, but all I feel is depressed.

Taking a Chance

I used to wish I had a different name. One that sounded more suitable for a writer. Something that flowed better and had more than two syllables. Now, I'm glad my name is Toni. Toni is a great name for a writer, because it doesn't rhyme with any bad words or body parts. This occured to me the other day, because one of the writers on the paper has a name that easily sounds like bastard. This, of course, had occured to the woman who wrote a complaint about him, exclaiming that he should be fired.
Apparently, he was not the only writer under fire that day. It seemed like everyone received either a nasty email or phone call--except for the unimportant intern that is. I quietly dabbled in my work while the entire newsroom became enraged.
This has pretty much made up my mind on whether or not I want to be a writer. Last night, I promptly applied for the job of my dreams. I had ruled out living in Indy because of the crime, and the fact that I don't like merging, but I think I'll risk getting shot at the Walmart and colliding with a semi if it means I won't have to write. I've already received more feedback from this company than the last place I applied to, even though it is only an email acknowledging that they recieved my resume.
I realize, I could do something I don't want to do because it's easier, or I could take a chance and maybe get a job that I'll really like. So, we'll see what happens.

Adding to the work load

Well, it's been five weeks. So far I've written the best bets every week, a press release about a barbershop convention, worked on the answer book, and observed Ken Bastide's interviews. I feel ready to add some weight to my workload--now that my cold is almost over. I want to be assigned more stories, or maybe pitch a few ideas of my own. One of the writers did request that I help him with some of his articles. I eagerly agreed. Maybe I'll finally get to write something with a byline.

Ready to Learn

After four years of college and three years writing/editing for my campus paper, you think I'd feel ready to get a job (Maybe I would if they weren't all in Indianapolis.). However, whether due to the lack of specific training at my college or just my usual self doubts, I chose to take an internship this summer instead of looking for a legitamite job.

Although I majored in English in order to edit, I'm interning at the Kokomo Tribune as a writer for the Lifestyles section with Erin Shultz. Writing isn't what I necessarily want to do, but I may have to. Better than working retail.

I have a bad memory, at times; so, just like anything I learned in lectures, I plan on writing about everything I do. I remember things better if I have a written record; so, I'm writing this blog as a record of what I do over the summer so I can look back on it.