Journalism
Mel told me I should try applying for a job with the UN. Im sure you could get it, she said.
Not that Im terribly keen, but today was a slow day at work, so I popped into the UNs website and looked through their employment opportunities. Hmm I figure itll be a few more years before I have enough experience to qualify for any of those jobs! *laughs*
Im not really looking for a new job; I'm pretty happy at my present job, apart from those pesky cosmetic product write-ups Im forever getting saddled with. I like the flexibility of the job (feature-writing is much less hectic than news reporting; we dont usually have killer deadlines!). I enjoy talking to people, listening to their stories, learning something new with every interview. Last but not least, I do like to write, very much. If youre reading this blog, I think youd find that pretty obvious! *grin*
Still, journalism and writing are two entirely different things. I think it took me about 6 months to discover that and to realise that I am actually passionate about writing, not journalism!
Whats the difference, you ask. Well, every once in a while the company organises training courses for us. One of my trainers told us, As a journalist, you never have days off! Even when you dont come into the office, you must always be on the lookout for a story. Be observant! Visit new places, walk around, talk to people. There are stories all around you! You just have to find them!
The roomful of budding journalists stared at her in silent horror. I could practically hear the silent screams: No! Not my off-days! Anything but my off-days! NOOOOOOOO!! Or maybe Im just projecting the voice in my head onto the others. You think? :P
Journalism is interesting, yes. But I cant see myself doing this for the long term, especially not if I were to marry and have children. The job calls for odd hours, a bit of travelling, and extraordinary dedication. I see the married folks staying in the office until 10 or 11pm and I wonder how they do it. They have little children; by the time they reach home, the children would be in bed. (Or SHOULD be in bed!)
I dont want that. I want to watch my children grow up, have them run into my arms in tears when some mishap occurs, do things together, have conversations with them about God and teach them godly values. (Told you I was a throwback to a bygone era, LOL!) Mom did that for us, and thats what I want to do for my children.
Journalism will help me to mature as a person, besides helping me to gain experience and hone my writing skills. But its not a vocation. Being a wife and mother is.