And so it does and it's about time. What was supposed to have become a part of my daily routine in autumn last year somehow got buried under the stress of job hunting, temping and worrying about just about everything that was making me wonder if I was fighting a losing battle for the career I envisioned since I was probably about ten years old. No one one said journalism was easy, but then I wasn't expecting it to be. What I had expected was that life would go according to the plan I set out for myself before travelling halfway round the world in pursuit of my 'London dream'.
The economic melt down was only the start of what I now look back on as a test of my own resilience, grit and self belief.
Almost 7 months after graduating with an MA in Broadcast Journalism from one of the country's top media courses I am prepping for what I hope will be the end of a long and arduous trek. As I ironed out the the last visible crease in what I hoped would be my lucky shirt I felt a flicker of confidence.
After months of trying and sending out hundreds of job applications, a process I started referring to as 'joblicating', I had a feeling my wait was over. I had spent the last three months in India with my family, with the comforts of home and had the chance to explore an area of journalism that gave me some great experience, the chance to get my work published and really enjoy myself.
Having left the UK I had to wait till my work visa came through before I could return so I was glad that I'd secured an internship with an online travel magazine. Working for The Travel Editor gave me a chance to finally be a restaurant/food critic of sorts which was something I'd always wanted to do. When I joined the hotel industry after doing my BA Honours in Hotel Management I realised that I was on the wrong side of the desk and today I think I'm finally getting where I want to be.
Apart from the chance to get some magazine-y skills into my competency collection writing for the travel editor gave me the chance to really experiment creatively capitalise on the online medium. 5 years ago who would have thought that I'd be sitting in front of my net book in India and not only interviewing a chocolatier in Canada over a video chat but actually getting a virtual tour of the factory over a web camera!
As the famous Edward de Bono once said "Creativity involves breaking out of existing patterns to look at things differently" . That's exactly what I was doing without even realizing it, but that's something that just defines who I am. I like to do things differently. He also said that "Creativity is a motivator, it makes me people interested in what they're doing" , which is probably why I'm so passionate about anything that I do and that's something that can make or break a journalist I think because when you're out filming in the rain and snow and your nails are turning blue you really need to love your job to succeed.
If someone had said to me last September when I walked out of my first journalism job interview feeling like I'd been hit my a truck, that everything happens for the best I would've never believed it. Sitting staring out at the papery grey sky above the sulky pale ripples of the Thames seated on a bench by the embankment that September afternoon, I felt my world was falling apart. I felt as though the ground was about to open up and swallow me and all my disappointment...
But now, after just about making it back to Heathrow a little over an hour before the disastrous shut down of UK air space I think luck has finally started showing me it's coming round. Not only that but now I actually see that not getting that first job I had the chance to explore different areas of journalism, shop around for more skills and experience and expand my contacts base to include people and experts from different fields and different continents.
I've written and reported on such a variety of subjects it seems ludicrous in a delightful sort of way. From the Iraq Inquiry to footwear, vineyards to philosophy I've had a chance to learn, write and see much more than I might have as a researcher in a big newsroom.
But now, I just want that long awaited challenge that's a treat for those who can get themselves a job with a big broadcaster, to be my next adventure....
