Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
Growth and Goodbyes
I have just returned from the NAB show in Vegas. This somewhat spontaneous adventure was initiated by my father who, like me, thoroughly enjoys geeking out over the lasted video technology for extended periods of time. It was crazy awesome.
A couple months ago I never would have pictured myself attending such a legit event. It’s even more weird to think back a couple years ago. I’ve come a long way since my senior year in high school at The King’s Academy when I was the “Beyond TKA” reporter. My tag was “With all things silly and scandalous….I’m Sami Glenn.” Here’s my first package ever, for your amusement. Total amateur hour, I know.
Ya….I’ve come a little ways. It still makes me laugh a little when I think about “Beyond TKA” morphing into a perusal of a real career.
Time to Sprint
It’s Super Semester crunch time, and my heart has began to constantly race as it usually does when meaningful periods of time crescendo into a magnificent (and mentally exerting) finale. I remember the first time I felt this extended adrenaline rush was the week before my first regional speech meet in first grade.
Even though I am vitamin D deprived, I am really enjoying the hours spent in the newsroom. The more I think about this semester ending, the more I want to lay on my face and sing power ballads in an expression of lamentation. But I can’t afford to do that with deadlines coming my way, so I haven’t thought about it much. However, in honor of the last blog post, prepare for an uninhibited mini-rant.
Cue rant.
I’m 19. I am the baby of the newsroom. All my SS friends are about to graduate within the next year and here I am here for TWO MORE YEARS. Now it wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to take History 10000 or Anthro-freaking-pology or Stone Age Literature or something. I have been exposed to a glimpse of a wonderful future that will tantalize me for another 730 days until I will bask in the glory of cameras and editing software forever. My life moto since college has been as follows:
Don’t let things you’re not passionate about get in the way of things you are passionate about. But now I’m at this crossroads where inevitably these required classes will steal time from things that (I feel) are super important in MY life.
So I have to search for balance in my moto because obviously I am dedicated to getting my degree. It’s the same deal as Troy Bolton from High School Musical. His head was in the game, but his heart was in the song. Last week at a networking event I was offered a full time job. They wanted me on the team to tell stories through video. Ummmm…..part of my dream? YES.
OBVIOUSLY I said no…but the fact that school was my immediate reason for declining the offer was a serious slap-in-the-face moment. Curse the system!
End rant.
But all this aside…I am so grateful to receive and education at all. At the end of the day I’ll do what I need to do, and I’ll do it happily. I need to remember that every experience is a learning experience.
Sometimes Love Means Letting Go
Okay now that that is out of the way, I have terrible news that has been getting me down lately. I unintentionally wounded Oscar, and our journey together is over. I won’t go into the gory details (it makes me pretty emotional) but I had to accept the fact that I couldn’t heal his wounds. I had to hand him over to others to give him the support he needs. He helped me see things in a beautiful way, and I have many memories with him that I will put in my demo reel.
Now I have a new friend….Pablo.
He’s no Oscar…we’ve a few issues seeing the same colors to begin with….but I think it’s going to be alright.
The remainder of the semester is going to fly by. It’s hitting the whole team in different ways. Most are getting ready to graduate, and their education will come to a close. One thing that I am truly grateful for is that despite everyone’s own personal freak-outs, we all get along so well. This team has really made the semester a wonderful time learning with true friends. Everyone is willing to lend a helping hand, and our communication is impeccable.
I love seeing how the producers talk with everyone, and how no one complains when someone asks for help or advice. I’ve felt so much encouragement.
With this last sprint to the finish line, I am anticipating many dance parties, a lot of coffee trips, and many beautiful pictures to be drawn on the white board in an act of procrastination.
Time to finish strong!
