Bittersweet Endings

My journey at ETSU is quickly ending as I begin to close the books on many courses. Being an English major required my intentional focus on critiquing literature, analyzing poetry, and writing lengthy essays to culminate my understanding of the impact of literary texts. Therefore, when I stepped into Reporting, I found myself polarized by the writing technique, the pace, the urgency of sharing fact from opinion and writing about what mattered. I was shocked, afraid--and yet, I found myself in love.

Walking into Reporting, I must admit that I was daunted by the syllabus. The long criteria for each assignment and brainstorming made me nervous and overwhelmed. However, as I began to take notes and allow myself to think freely and research heartily, I found myself in a new field of writing about what mattered and it felt right.

In contrast to writing an overview of literary texts and applying them to moral understanding, writing for reporting required accurate, punchy, in-depth writing that is quick and to the point instead of long, poetic and riveting. This required me to write what I know--therefore, I must resort to research.

As a multi-passionate woman who loves to study most subjects, I know my infatuation with coffee would fit the beat for the semester. I saw the goal as I brainstormed coffeehouses and possible stories to write. However, as the beat began, it sounded into a harmonious melody of interviews, typing of keys and hearing myself over a recorder--again and again.

I found boldness, courage and bravery in my writing. I found that it is okay to get poetic in storytelling and serious in sharing fact. I found that writing about what you love is much easier than forcing yourself to get a grade. I found that allowing the story to unravel as it chooses is much better than forcing the plot. I found my voice.

As this chapter closes and I reflect upon this past semester, I have learned the beauty in dreaming and achieving. You can dream of how a story may unravel, but you must put in the effort to chase the stories and plans you wish to attain. It takes gumption and I have found that.

If I am being honest, I would not have changed the course. I loved the beat-brainstorming and the creative freedom that was allotted over the course. Two gems of advice would be to 1. read and work ahead and 2. take advantage of the resources before to get better (that means the professor and your classmates).

As I begin to prepare for what is next, I know that this class will advance my success as a Mass Communication Specialist for the Navy because I will know what to write about, how to gather research, how to interview, who to ask and what creative focus I can apply to each assignment. This course, and professor, has greatly impacted me and will help my success as a Sailor for the United States.

Final Enterprise/Multimedia Project: https://leahmooredbhs.wixsite.com/enterprise-doe

Final Re-Write for Article 3: The Little Coffeehouse That Could: https://leahmooredbhs.wixsite.com/jour2130/post/the-little-coffeehouse-that-could-again