Journalism is not as easy as it seems. This profession can talk about pretty much everything, however we have to keep updated with the market, new technologies, our main public and also must be original when making subject (or personal) choices. The first thing we hear when we start the course is “do you really want to do it?” or “you still have time to give up”, and none of them would give us a positive perspective about our future profession. It might be hard to keep motivated during college, but fortunately, we have some features that can change and test our conceptions and feelings, for the best or worst.
As a freshman, after seven months experiencing the course I have been into some great surprises. Here, at Cásper Líbero, we always have lectures related to our major, which provides amazing discussions about different themes, job market visions and they also clarify any other doubt we might have as students. In the same way, we also have practical projects and extracurricular laboratories – this is, in my opinion, the greatest part of college. Beyond this, facing journalism in practice and being in touch with so many successful professionals is like getting some fresh air, it is the best opportunity to either fall in love with the profession, or change it as fast as you can.
The last big event we had was the Journalism Week, from August 31st to September 4th, which had lectures from ten different themes – like Cultural, Sports, Fashion, Hard News, International – with lots of great journalists. Personally, the week was truly amazing. Seeing that great professionals could go through many obstacles and still can, on a daily basis, inspires us to do the same thing. The event opened my mind to different paths I can follow in the future – like being an international correspondent. Fashion was also an inspiring discussion. I always thought that this world was as unachievable as we see in The Devil Wears Prada, but it is not. The editor of Vogue Brasil, for example, has done pretty much everything before leading the most important fashion magazine of the country. It is a long way to the top, but fighting to reach it is what makes journalism worth it.
Another project that I cannot forget to mention is the Esquinas magazine, a laboratorial publication in which the students produce big articles, with interviews and investigation. For me, it was when I had certainty that I choose the right job. We have a lot of responsibility, but we are treated as formed professionals. We literally have to go out and ascertain information, and this is all a journalist wants to do. Among boring textbooks and basic subjects, practicing for real what we love to do is an indescribable experience.
In the end, that is what every profession should propose. Making us engage with our future job is not easy, but it’s crucial. I can say I couldn’t make a better choice. I don’t see myself doing another thing, and this is what makes me overcome obstacles.