Homecoming
To say I haven't written on here in a while would be a complete understatement. I suppose I wondered what I would say, or how I would start this.
It comes back to yesterday when I had a realization about my expectations of this blog. I thought it would be easy for me to let out my introverted self into the world of zeros and ones. That it would be easy to write whenever I wanted. To put it simply, I underestimated what it meant to blog.
This fall semester I took a class called 'Newspaper Participation' which made me write all the time. I believed that this would encourage me to take up my hobby of writing more often, rather than when I felt a surge of inspiration (which inconveniently happens right when I am about to fall asleep).
I have been asked to be on staff for The Vista, UCO's school paper, next semester. It was thrilling, everything that I wished for since last spring. Then I was tasked to write an article about blogging. (The plot thickens...)
I woke up late due to the chill from a perfect autumn morning. The covers were more inviting than the cold wooden floors, but I had a task. I was to interview Dr. Terry Clark at 9 o'clock sharp.
He is a popular professor at the university. He teaches 'Blogging for Journalists' hence why he was the perfect person to talk to. I had heard about him and how cool he was but had never met him personally.
When I walked into his office. He was patiently waiting in his chair. I was out of breath from running, feeling embarrassed for almost being late to our meeting. After all, I did say '9 o'clock sharp'.
I was tasked to write 'ten reasons why a journalist should blog'. I was looking forward to his ten answers since I could only think of three or four ideas on my own.
I pulled out my little pink notebook and sat excited to hear Dr. Clark's expertise.
"I have never had that question before," he said. I, myself, was thinking, "Great, of course I have to ask a question that is hard to answer."
"I don't know how to answer it, but I did make a list for you," he said. He produced a list of reasons to blog and not blog.
Of course it wasn't what I expected, but I was also very excited about the new angle that the article could be written.
Dr. Clark showed me his blog "Coffee with Clark," he told me about his career and his classes. I could tell the man was extremely intelligent and well-versed in helping his students succeed.
The week before I had been asked to be the social media chair for OMA (Omni Management Association) which is a new non-profit in OKC that helps women who are business owners or aspire to be business owners succeed. The problem was I was not only young, but I had never worked for a non-profit before.
The news of my new job was overwhelming. I didn't know how or where to go about creating a successful social media life for the non-profit, so I was glad I had Dr. Clark to interview so I could ask him questions.
Then Dr. Clark told me about his intersession class that taught journalists how to use social media in their careers. The stars aligned, the clouds had dissipated, my stress had disappeared.
I was saved thanks to Dr. Terry Clark.
Today I had my advisement for next semester and I was thinking about changing my minor. I still have research to do, but my advisor Gary told me to talk to my professors about it. I went in to talk to the advisor of The Vista, Teddy Burch.
After discussing possibilities on minors I told him about my interview with Dr. Clark and how much I enjoyed what he had to say. He then asked me, "Have you looked at his blog?"
I confess I was starting my article about blogging today. I had not yet looked at his blog since yesterday. To my surprise, Dr. Clark had blogged about me.
I read it and I cried. I didn't know that my interview with him had made his day. But there I sat happy that I was able to make someone's day. That should be a goal we all have.
Thank you, Dr. Clark for an unforgettable interview.
-KateleighSuz
Read his reasons why to blog and why not to blog if you are interested in starting a blog. He's brilliant.
Dr. Clarks Blog: http://clarkcoffee.blogspot.com/2015/10/9-oclock-sharp-reasons-to-blog-or-not.html#comment-form
