MAB Scholarship Luncheon
It went splendidly!
A year ago, I was driving up to the Lansing Center with Allyson, laughing all the way. We'd gone to set up for the Broadcast Excellence Awards that took place in the evening. We arranged flowers and candles on tables; we later networked with broadcast professionals at a fancy open bar. Everyone thought we were sisters, twins. I remember a creepy, unemployed, old guy flirting with the two of us at the same time. I remember meeting Chuck Stokes and thinking he hated me because he gave Allyson most of the eye contact.
Fast-forward one year.
Today, I drove up to the Lansing Center with Shardonnay, laughing all the way. The woman cracks me up. We went to navigate an MAB Career Fair, and before that, watch me receive an MAB Foundation Scholarship. I went from setting up to getting paid ;-) Other things have changed. Allyson since took a semester off school, got in a scuffle with Alicia Nails, and quit journalism. She returned this semester to pursue law.
The last career fair I went to in November, I was asking for internships. This career fair, I was asking what employers and producers would want fro me. A producer helpfully told me she likes reporters who communicate with her - call her when they're out on shoots, tell her how much information they have, update her on how much they know and whether they can go live. She said it's great if I can do my own graphics (I'm sure I can learn, but not at WXYZ because they're super-imposed live). Darryl Shreve?
Anyway... Getting a scholarship was the bomb dot com. Especially because Shardonnay took a swag because of me holding the certificate... Awww. Also, I just finished contacting back people I spoke with today (save for WNEM news director, indirect contact). I didn't waste my time with radio stations because I know for sure I don't want to work for them. I ripped up WILX's news director's business card because he depressed me and I dislike his attitude. I feel sort of powerful - more focused, more direct in my mission, more to show for myself (Every time I handed someone a resume they commented on my WXYZ internship... Thanks, Karen!).
Highlights: Being told my name befits me by several people. (Awww.) WNEM 5's Jeff (position?) showing specific interest in me and giving me internal numbers and emails. Ed Fernandez approaching me at the luncheon and giving me a hug, liking what I had to say about the WXYZ internship. Shardonnay posting a cute ass picture of me. Having the confidence to discuss, not internships, but my potential hiring a year from now. OH! And Kevin Dunaway.
I'm not sure what it is with us, but it works. I was talking to Shardonnay while he was talking to someone else. I waved at him and smiled, he paused and waved at me. As soon as that guy left, I approached Kevin, Shardonnay followed. He asked me what I've been up to since I last saw him. I slickly described my Ghana experience and informed him about WXYZ. Ed Fernandez (thank you my bruh!) passed by me at the perfect moment, and we said hello to each other (Ed, God bless you and your awesomeness. Amen.). I handed him my resume. Kevin was impressed and jovial. We exchanged some banter about my upcoming graduation. And he flat out told me, "If you don't have one somewhere, I'll give you a job."
Wow. "Are you serious?!" I exclaimed, shocked and joyed. He nodded and said, "Yes." "Thank you!" Then he gave me his business card, I joked about already knowing his email; he told me to keep in touch and I happily said goodbye. Shardonnay's like "OMG you got a job; you got a job!"
Hehehehe. :-) I am THRILLED. That's basically the best response you can get at a job fair. I'm not sure why he's so damn certain hiring me would be a good choice - he hasn't read my stuff or seen a reel from me; he just met me once in November and was "impressed by my demeanor." Yet, the man seems so damn sure that he is going to make room for me on his news staff.
It's funny. I think back to November, talking to and apparently really impressing Kevin while Alana stood beside me. He grilled me about my interests and experience. He was impressed. He said to keep in touch. I emailed him thinking it might just turn out like anyone else's "Keep in touch." It didn't.
"I hear Traverse City is a beautiful place," I said today.
"It is," he said.
Might I be planning a move to Traverse City this time next year? We'll see. Might I be the first TV news reporter the Institute has seen since Alicia took charge of the program? We'll see.
A year ago, I was driving up to the Lansing Center with Allyson, laughing all the way. We'd gone to set up for the Broadcast Excellence Awards that took place in the evening. We arranged flowers and candles on tables; we later networked with broadcast professionals at a fancy open bar. Everyone thought we were sisters, twins. I remember a creepy, unemployed, old guy flirting with the two of us at the same time. I remember meeting Chuck Stokes and thinking he hated me because he gave Allyson most of the eye contact.
Fast-forward one year.
Today, I drove up to the Lansing Center with Shardonnay, laughing all the way. The woman cracks me up. We went to navigate an MAB Career Fair, and before that, watch me receive an MAB Foundation Scholarship. I went from setting up to getting paid ;-) Other things have changed. Allyson since took a semester off school, got in a scuffle with Alicia Nails, and quit journalism. She returned this semester to pursue law.
The last career fair I went to in November, I was asking for internships. This career fair, I was asking what employers and producers would want fro me. A producer helpfully told me she likes reporters who communicate with her - call her when they're out on shoots, tell her how much information they have, update her on how much they know and whether they can go live. She said it's great if I can do my own graphics (I'm sure I can learn, but not at WXYZ because they're super-imposed live). Darryl Shreve?
Anyway... Getting a scholarship was the bomb dot com. Especially because Shardonnay took a swag because of me holding the certificate... Awww. Also, I just finished contacting back people I spoke with today (save for WNEM news director, indirect contact). I didn't waste my time with radio stations because I know for sure I don't want to work for them. I ripped up WILX's news director's business card because he depressed me and I dislike his attitude. I feel sort of powerful - more focused, more direct in my mission, more to show for myself (Every time I handed someone a resume they commented on my WXYZ internship... Thanks, Karen!).
Highlights: Being told my name befits me by several people. (Awww.) WNEM 5's Jeff (position?) showing specific interest in me and giving me internal numbers and emails. Ed Fernandez approaching me at the luncheon and giving me a hug, liking what I had to say about the WXYZ internship. Shardonnay posting a cute ass picture of me. Having the confidence to discuss, not internships, but my potential hiring a year from now. OH! And Kevin Dunaway.
I'm not sure what it is with us, but it works. I was talking to Shardonnay while he was talking to someone else. I waved at him and smiled, he paused and waved at me. As soon as that guy left, I approached Kevin, Shardonnay followed. He asked me what I've been up to since I last saw him. I slickly described my Ghana experience and informed him about WXYZ. Ed Fernandez (thank you my bruh!) passed by me at the perfect moment, and we said hello to each other (Ed, God bless you and your awesomeness. Amen.). I handed him my resume. Kevin was impressed and jovial. We exchanged some banter about my upcoming graduation. And he flat out told me, "If you don't have one somewhere, I'll give you a job."
Wow. "Are you serious?!" I exclaimed, shocked and joyed. He nodded and said, "Yes." "Thank you!" Then he gave me his business card, I joked about already knowing his email; he told me to keep in touch and I happily said goodbye. Shardonnay's like "OMG you got a job; you got a job!"
Hehehehe. :-) I am THRILLED. That's basically the best response you can get at a job fair. I'm not sure why he's so damn certain hiring me would be a good choice - he hasn't read my stuff or seen a reel from me; he just met me once in November and was "impressed by my demeanor." Yet, the man seems so damn sure that he is going to make room for me on his news staff.
It's funny. I think back to November, talking to and apparently really impressing Kevin while Alana stood beside me. He grilled me about my interests and experience. He was impressed. He said to keep in touch. I emailed him thinking it might just turn out like anyone else's "Keep in touch." It didn't.
"I hear Traverse City is a beautiful place," I said today.
"It is," he said.
Might I be planning a move to Traverse City this time next year? We'll see. Might I be the first TV news reporter the Institute has seen since Alicia took charge of the program? We'll see.