What follows is archival evidence from my first weeks in j-school. I chose to leave the awkward word choice. Warning: it is painful to read. Did I really applaud Jennifer Connelly for being pretty? Mighty pen!? *Face palm*
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Why journalism? This question has haunted every conversation I’ve partaken in since the day I accepted Carleton’s offer.
I want to be a journalist because I was never meant to be one. I was not one of those students with a natural affinity with the written and spoken word; both reading and speaking were arduous tasks . However, soon after I was introduced to J.K Rowling’s claim to fame, I drowned myself in pages of print. With a newfound reading habit, I slowly taught myself to love books, leading me to love and practice the written word. Journalism allows me to pursue this passion in all aspects of my life.
I want to be involved and in the know. I want to meet interesting people and see interesting things. I have always had a thirst for knowledge; looking at everything with inherent curiosity. Journalism can give me the opportunity to never stop learning about the world we live in.
I want to travel the globe and expand my worldview. For most, it was Leonardo DiCaprio that made Blood Diamond an immediate favourite. For me, it was Jennifer Connelly and her character as the pretty, persistent investigative reporter that forced me to watch the movie four times. As with every aspiring journalist, I dream to sweat and bleed in a faraway continent writing a world-changing exposé.
My parents, who once dreamed every parent’s dream, were more than disappointed with my choice of the mighty pen over the road to medical school, so I told them a few of the many strings that pull me to the newsroom. Hearing my passion, they have since pushed that dream into my younger brother. Maybe we can both grow up to save lives.
Jenn Leah Ko 