As much as I love journalism and all the learning, writing and reporting that I have done so far, I firmly believe that one day I will become an entrepreneur of some sort and contribute my skill sets to a whole new area outside of journalism.
After watching a video where Joe Gebbia, one of the co-founders of the website airbandb.com, tells the story of how air bed and breakfast came to be I have certainly become inspired. The video is a must watch. As a designer and aspiring entrepreneur Gebbia and two of his friends created the online community marketplace where people can share their spaces around the world. The website was created back in 2008 and after some rough patches in the beginning, now as 2014 approaches the website has taken off and people all over the world are putting their spaces from couches to whole apartments to tree houses on the website for users to rent out. Pretty cool if you ask me!!
And one of the things that I love most about this idea is that while it originally started to help pay the monthly rent, when you listen to Gebbia talk you don't get the feeling that the founders of airbandb.com are primarily fueled by the interest of making money. After visiting the site's users and renting spaces themselves one can see that they are truly invested in making the website the best it can possibly be not just for their own satisfaction but for everyone who experiences air bed and breakfast.
People always ask you as you go through college what you want to do with your life, who you want to become and what are you going to do with that darn journalism degree. Well folks, let me tell you... my dream is to in some facet be able to imagine, create, and invent something new... to challenge myself and work with people I love, to continue to write and explore the world.
As I begin to prepare for studying abroad next semester in London this video was a welcome reminder that the possibilities in life are endless... and to stick with jotting down ideas in a notebook cause you never know if they could one day become a successful business concept!
Monday, December 30, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Take This Town and Shove It
Take This Town and Shove It. This headline has been circulating around "This Town" aka Washington D.C. for the past few days since its publication in Politico Magazine and I thought I'd weigh in too.
Written by former White House correspondent, Sam Youngman, the article details Youngman's time as a reporter in Washington D.C and how he got sucked into the D.C culture, writing "I was so trapped in the bubble of my own artificially inflated ego..."Yougman has since moved on and is currently a political reporter for the Herald-Leader in Lexington, Kentucky.
Youngman wrote at the beginning of the article, "I made it to the White House beat and broke into the club." He added later in the piece, "I had fallen out of love with journalism..."
To an aspiring reporter like myself, Youngman lived the dream. Spending days reporting on the White House, riding in Air Force On, and getting invited to the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Youngman had it all.
The publication of this article is perfect timing as I finish my semester in Washington D.C. tomorrow. Acting as a Washington correspondent for the past semester has taught me how much I love researching and covering politics. I now know that I would love to end up returning to "This Town" sometime in the near future.
While it may seem easy to beat up on Washington and the politics that consume it from an outsider's perspective. For an insider like myself (at least for the past four months) it is even easier to see how one can fall in love with "This Town."
However, this article was a good wake up call as I complete my time reporting in D.C for now. It is important to not get too caught up in the day-to-day operations and lifestyle that consumes many of D.C.'s inhabitants.
But no matter how ugly it may seem to get at times (shutdown anyone?) Washington D.C. will forever be a journalist's dream when it comes to covering politics. So if I do end up returning to D.C., it will be important to keep in mind where I came from in order to not get trapped in the bubble like Youngman.
Despite this article, for now I'll continue to tweet about politics, watch CSPAN, and dream of the possibilities that D.C. can offer me.
Written by former White House correspondent, Sam Youngman, the article details Youngman's time as a reporter in Washington D.C and how he got sucked into the D.C culture, writing "I was so trapped in the bubble of my own artificially inflated ego..."Yougman has since moved on and is currently a political reporter for the Herald-Leader in Lexington, Kentucky.
Youngman wrote at the beginning of the article, "I made it to the White House beat and broke into the club." He added later in the piece, "I had fallen out of love with journalism..."
To an aspiring reporter like myself, Youngman lived the dream. Spending days reporting on the White House, riding in Air Force On, and getting invited to the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Youngman had it all.
The publication of this article is perfect timing as I finish my semester in Washington D.C. tomorrow. Acting as a Washington correspondent for the past semester has taught me how much I love researching and covering politics. I now know that I would love to end up returning to "This Town" sometime in the near future.
While it may seem easy to beat up on Washington and the politics that consume it from an outsider's perspective. For an insider like myself (at least for the past four months) it is even easier to see how one can fall in love with "This Town."
However, this article was a good wake up call as I complete my time reporting in D.C for now. It is important to not get too caught up in the day-to-day operations and lifestyle that consumes many of D.C.'s inhabitants.
But no matter how ugly it may seem to get at times (shutdown anyone?) Washington D.C. will forever be a journalist's dream when it comes to covering politics. So if I do end up returning to D.C., it will be important to keep in mind where I came from in order to not get trapped in the bubble like Youngman.
Despite this article, for now I'll continue to tweet about politics, watch CSPAN, and dream of the possibilities that D.C. can offer me.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Goodbye Capitol City
This post has been a long time coming, well at least four months...
Yes I have been in Washington D.C. for four months now, and yes you've guessed right again, this is my last week before I have to pack up all my bags and return home before my next adventure.
Honestly this semester has been one of the best I've had. Although I miss my friends and the school I have called home for the past two years, this semester was worth every high and low that came along with being a student and journalist in one fine city for a semester. The people I've met and the experiences I have had will last a lifetime and I know that this is just the beginning of something great. It is hard for me to believe it is already time to say goodbye. I guess time does fly when you are having fun. I've grown as a student, a friend and most importantly as a journalist the past few months and while I'm excited for what is to come I'm going to miss it. Almost four years ago I considered attending college in Washington D.C. but decided to go to Boston instead. Who would have ever thought I'd actually end up here, not wanting the time to end? The last few days will certainly be jam packed from reporting to saying goodbyes, but every minute will be time well spent. I won't be able to say it enough, but I love D.C. and I've loved pretty much every second I've been here.
Here's to 2014 and the many more adventures on the books, until next time Capitol City.
Yes I have been in Washington D.C. for four months now, and yes you've guessed right again, this is my last week before I have to pack up all my bags and return home before my next adventure.
Honestly this semester has been one of the best I've had. Although I miss my friends and the school I have called home for the past two years, this semester was worth every high and low that came along with being a student and journalist in one fine city for a semester. The people I've met and the experiences I have had will last a lifetime and I know that this is just the beginning of something great. It is hard for me to believe it is already time to say goodbye. I guess time does fly when you are having fun. I've grown as a student, a friend and most importantly as a journalist the past few months and while I'm excited for what is to come I'm going to miss it. Almost four years ago I considered attending college in Washington D.C. but decided to go to Boston instead. Who would have ever thought I'd actually end up here, not wanting the time to end? The last few days will certainly be jam packed from reporting to saying goodbyes, but every minute will be time well spent. I won't be able to say it enough, but I love D.C. and I've loved pretty much every second I've been here.
Here's to 2014 and the many more adventures on the books, until next time Capitol City.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Celebration of a life...
Celebrate the life of a brilliant leader, mentor and man. Just a few of his quotes I love to share with you all on the day of Nelson Mandela's death. A historical legacy.
My friend said it best: "Death has a funny way of showing us how we should truly live."
God bless Nelson Mandela.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Do You Hear What I Hear....
One of my most favorite parts of the time leading up to Christmas is the lovely, cheerful and often calming holiday music that fills my iPod for a few weeks and can be heard throughout shopping malls and on just about every radio station in December. Holiday tunes can instantly turn around my day if I'm feeling a bit down and really just get me so excited for Christmas!
This video of the a cappella group, Pentatonix, has been circulating on the web recently and I thought I'd share it with you all. Their sound is beautiful and embodies pretty much everything I love about holiday music and the various renditions that groups have taken on traditional holiday songs like "Little Drummer Boy." Enjoy and may your season by marry and bright!
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