February 2002
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OPINION

The Long Road Ahead
By Melody Rogan, Grade 12, Tec Voc High School, Winnipeg, MB

Everything I've ever done has led up to this moment. Fourteen years of schooling, and a ton of experiences are the reasons I am the person I am today.

Without a doubt I would say that the next four years of my life will be the busiest and most interesting years so far. I am taking the next step toward deciding what I would like to do with the rest of my years on this planet. This is an overwhelming event.

What really is in store for me, and what I hope will be in store for me may be two very different things. My only goal is to do something that I feel is self-fulfilling, and at the same time, beneficial to others. What is this dream job you ask? My answer would be journalism.

I want to be part of the world of information and the exchange of ideas. I think this is an important part of humanity. What I'm now being faced with is the challenge of getting myself to where I'd like to be. I want to write.

Since I was very young, I've had a passion for both reading and writing. One of my great achievements as a child was seeing a poem I'd written published in the Winnipeg Free Press. The idea that other people could read what I had felt and communicated was exciting. I still have that feeling.

For the past two years, I have focused on getting the experience I need to excel in a post secondary communications program. I was a member of my school's newspaper staff in Grade 11, and my work continues to be published, although I sometimes don't have the time to make meetings. The Amnesty International writing campaign at my school was a great way for me to combine writing with my own human rights beliefs. This year I was lucky enough to be published in five of the community newspapers in Winnipeg and surrounding communities, as well as having a letter to the editor published in the Winnipeg Free Press. The Journalism course I am taking has opened a lot of doors for me as far as public exposure goes; this is a great experience that will benefit me in the future.

After graduating in June of this year, I will be waiting to see if I have been accepted into a joint communications degree program through the University of Winnipeg and Red River College.

Students taking this course will have the opportunity to learn about the practical and academic aspects of this field. The first year will be spent at the university where the students will work towards completing the communications degree. This is not nearly as easy as they would have you believe. Prior to being accepted at Red River, you must complete an autobiography, reading ability and current events tests and an interview with a selection committee. You also have to pay two tuition fees and two application fees. I was not expecting this. Hopefully this information will help those of you who are looking into this program. I wish I had known!

I am hoping to earn scholarship money from the university and from others that I have applied for. This will help pay for part of the tuition and books. It's a good thing I kept my marks above 80% because there's a lot of competition out there. After completing my schooling, I would like to become a freelance journalist or perhaps a columnist for a newspaper or magazine. Eventually, I would like to work my way up to editor.

These are all just tentative plans, but I think with the right amount of support from others, and hard work on my part, I may just end up in the job that's right for me!

If this information has helped anyone at all, whether it be with their planning for the future, or with applying for the same course, I will be happy, as I wrote this article for that particular reason. The best thing I can say, in conclusion, is good luck!