#SPJ100 - tweeting, meeting, and looking towards the future

When Emily asked me if I wanted to attend the Society of Professional Journalism conference in Indy near the end of the summer, I really wasn't sure I was going to go. I mean, journalism conference vs. photojournalism conference? We all try to be combined, but what if I register and get there and there is NO ONE talking about visual content and I am sitting in news writing seminars all day? Luckily, visual communication seminars were going to be involved. So why not go?

Now here I sit in the Westin in Indy and enjoying the 2nd day of the conference. I seriously am amazed by how much I am learning about journalism, photos, technology, and how to have a career in something I love to do! The cardboard box future is looking less likely, thus the future does not look quite as bleak as it once did.

I have also found myself obsessed with tweeting this summer, but especially here at the conference. There must be at least 100 people twittering about the conference every few minutes and hash-tagging it #spj100. I have to constantly refresh my page because 120 new posts have been made! Plus I have gained about 5 new friends on Twitter just from putting #spj100 into my tweets. Technology and social networking is a powerful thing.

Still tons of seminars to attend as well as othe

r things before the weekend is out, and plenty of places to go and things to do with Emily and Tom, but so far I'm a big fan. :-)

-rso-

The good and the bad... leaving Elkhart

With every good thing, there is something to counteract it.

Today is my last day at my internship and I have had the most amazing time and I am now freaking out about having to leave. Here is how my pro/con list has begun to look.

Good: I did my 10-week internship! Awesome! Now I can check that off my DARS!

Bad: What? I'm done? That means senior year... that means real world... [hyperventilating]

Good: Now I can go home and see Mom, Patrick, and my friends back in Cleveland for a few days.

Bad: I'm leaving my new friends and home and I really have been enjoying it. Plus I don't want to go to the doctors! 

Good: I have learned so much at The Truth and improved so much thanks to so many people.

Bad: Once again, I really don't want to leave my friends. 

Good: Yay senior year is going to begin! OU, Oh yeah!

Bad: Oh. My. God. Senior Year?

Good: My summer actually wasn't all work and no fun! I got to go all sorts of places and lucked out living with amazing people and their awesome dog.

Bad: Oh, I made good friends and now I have to leave them? This sucks.

Good: I got to shoot all sorts of interesting things and had lots of fun assignments.

Bad: There are so many more things I want to do and shoot! How did 10-weeks pass so fast?

The list goes on and on. But even though today is my last day, I hope to keep the friends I have made for a lifetime! 

-rso-