Young Roots
Dealing with my craft
By Johanne Macob
I have been in this industry for about 40 months now, still a very short experience compared to most of the people I get to work with for most of the time. Up to this day, I think I can honestly say that I’m still one of the youngest members in media, at least in our province.
Recently, a college buddy and now somehow a ‘co-worker’ asked me what I like or love about working at our media outfit. Thereafter, I asked myself what I like or love about working in this line of job. I remember when I was new in this work, I had my hopes really high not only from the job per se but from fellow members of the print and of the broadcast media. I enjoyed going around the province, learning people’s stories. I was excited meeting ‘colleagues’ in the industry. I was so happy with the connections, eventually turning into ‘friendships,’ I thought I was able to build with a lot of people. I have been an idealist about work, most specially, about those friendships.
Three years later today, some of my initial ideals had left me. Well, I still love the experience of travelling around the province and talking to different kinds of people. I still look up to some really good journalists among other people who are experts in their chosen fields. And, I still love writing. Perhaps, what I just realized is that there are really some people whose acts I just couldn’t understand and which I should just shrug off. There are those who take this job too seriously that they could no longer separate their personal lives from it. There are those who put too much value on whatever it is that this work gives them that they would be more than willing to forgo even their friendships. And there are those who just couldn’t be happy when something good happens to their colleagues. I can only pray that these people soon have a better grasp of what they must value in their lives.
Earlier this month, upon pondering on those realizations and with the pressure I got from my studies, I actually thought of taking a break. The realizations of the kind of people I, somehow, have to deal with in this industry really saddened me. For one, I felt like I was betrayed by some people I actually cared for and admired. At this point, though, I want to clarify that I am not generalizing. A lot of good people are also on board. There are those who are good-hearted and whose happiness lies from being able to assist other people in the simplest ways they can. There are those who post challenges so as to push people into higher grounds. There are those whose friendships are really genuine. And yes, these are the people who make me want to stay here for as long as I can.
Forty months in this industry. And I am not really sure how many more months I still have left here. What I am certain is I still have a lot to learn in regard this craft, in the same way that I still have a lot to learn and like or accept and just ignore about people. Now, if I were to answer my own question on what I love about being journalist, it’s about having the opportunity of knowing and dealing with variety of people better. Going out, interacting with different people- I guess this will make me wiser and stronger as a person.
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