"YOU are the Journalist"

As I waited for the introductory lecture of JOUR1111 - Journalism and Communication to commence, I, like any other shy 19 year old girl who knows no one else in the room, was texting my friends for moral support. While the noise of everyone else around told me others were making new friends and doing that awkward introductory thing, I was finding out about H's day at work, E's latest evil scheme, the lecture T was currently in and how C was running late....again!  I was immersed in my own little world, then everything around me when quiet....

When I looked up, a man (who I now know to be Dr. Bruce Redman, my lecturer) was standing at the podium. He went through the obligatory "Introductory Lecture" - this is the assignment, it's due (...), it's worth this much, this is the semester plan...etc etc etc... 

But, unlike other introductory lectures I had attended, Dr. Redman had these really interesting quotes throughout his lecture. I don't know if it's because I am a lover of quotes that three of them stuck with me, or if it's because the words are so profound. The reason why doesn't matter - what matter is the fact that they did. By sharing with you these three quotes, maybe they will stick with you too. Maybe they will impact you the way they impacted upon me.  

"Journalism is never silent". I have always felt drawn to the "little guy", the people that don't have a voice, who's stories are never told because everyone always forgets them. Or because the stories would open up a can of worms that some would rather keep closed. As a shy person, I can choose not to make a fuss when I feel I have been done wrongly. That's my choice, but I also have the choice to rant and rave when I feel badly done by. Some don't have the choice to complain. But my nature will not let me sit back and watch people who don't have an option to voice their tales, or don't have the courage to speak out, suffer in silence. I want to bring into the light the plight of someone who suffers from depression, the hardships they have faced and still face today. I want to talk to the oppressed and make their words heard. I want their voices to carry over long distances and stir talk about their experiences.

The second quote, "I became a journalist to come as close as possible to the heart of the world", gives me motivation to fulfil my dream to travel the world! There is so much out there I want to see, touch, feel and experience. But there is also so much out there that I want to listen to, talk, and eventually write, about. I want to travel the world gathering people stories - from Australia, to China, to Argentina, to Egypt and back again! And if I get paid to do it, that's even better :P

I tried a year of psychology and never experienced the sense of wonder and excitement I felt in 50 minutes of my first Journalism class. I don't like locking myself into anything for too long, it makes me feel restricted and caged. I am locked in for four years of Journalism study, and I feel excited and hopeful.

This is going to be an interesting couple of years.....