If you could do it again

My favorite word as a kid was "dream." I loved the idea that "if you can dream it... you can do it."  I blame my mother for this starry/wanderlust sort of upbringing. As kids, we were always encouraged to decide on our own what we wanted to do with our lives.. then do it. I was never told that I had to go to college; but I did.

Why? Because I decided I wanted to be a journalist. I was probably 12 when I made this decision. I was a theater kid, (not the weird/gothy/emoish theater kid, but a theater kid all the same.) I was smart enough to realize that if I wanted to make my dreams come true, I needed a solid plan. I loved writing book reports and I loved researching just about anything that struck my fancy. 

As I was watching the news one day, I saw Tina Hicks deliver the news. I knew at 12 that this was what I wanted to do. I wanted to read, write, and tell people what they needed to know. To me, it was a lot like performing, but even better! The next year, I remember walking through the grocery store and I found a book on getting a job in Broadcast Journalism. I showed my mom and she purchased it for me. I read it cover to cover and made a plan.

Later I studied Broadcast journalism in college - never once changing my major. I worked for my school's newspaper, I was a radio DJ for two years, and I worked as the executive producer for our college television station, (by then I knew I wanted to control the newscast versus be a puppet.) I graduated on a Saturday, started an internship on a Monday, finished that internship on a Friday three months later, and started a job as a television news producer the following Monday. We were the #1 CBS affiliate in the nation. One of the programs I produced won a Gabby Award and I won an Associated Press award for Best Public Affairs Reporting. It was fun. It was exciting. 

Then I transitioned into Public Relations/Media Relations/Promotions. I've been there ever since. 

But if I could do it again, or if I had the chance to change some things up, just what would interest me?

1. I LOVE photography. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know half of what my camera does. But I like taking pictures, and sometimes those pictures look really, really good. If I could have, I would have applied to SCAD and entered a photography Masters and became a travel photographer.

2. I am fascinated by psychology. I often think I should have become a therapist. I even subscribe to psychology today. The human mind is absolutely fascinating.

3. Became a litigator. If there is one thing I can do, I can argue. ;-) I love debate. I have this uncanny ability to think very quickly and take anything anyone says and throw it back in a way that sort of wins the debate. Would have been sport for me. Law school is just too tedious and expensive.

4. Peace Corps. I was just a week or so away from sending in my formal application when I got the job I have now. I figure this is still something on the horizon. If I find myself without a job or in need of a transition - this is the next move for sure.

If you could do it all over, what would you do?