Learning

Every time I leave OIDJ I learn something new. Last year, it was how to be a good journalist and that I wanted to study Public Relations. This year, it was how to be a better leader and have fun even when I don't want to. I came to OIDJ late this year because I was at a yearbook conference in Missouri. When I showed up on Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. I was tired, annoyed and really not ready to do more work. When I walked into my hot dorm room, I saw someone else's stuff everywhere and I wanted to scream. In Missouri I had to share a room with someone from my school and a bathroom with my whole floor. The thought of sharing a room with another person for five more days almost drove me insane. When I had to say bye to my mom in the hallway, my inner little kid came out wanting to cry and say, 'take me with you!'. I really didn't want to stay here for a couple days and do work with people I didn't know. When Tham walked me across the campus I felt almost sad that I would be stuck all the way in Norman for five days. When I walked into the work room though, I felt better. I was hugged by some familiar faces from last year that reminded me of why I came back. You don't go places in life because of what you do, you go places in life because of who you go with. When I got to catch up with everyone I knew, it felt like I had made the right decision to come back. The work was hard though. Everyday we got up at 7 to go through a full day of classes, meals, work session and visits to every major journalistic place in driving distance, but it was fun. All of the laughs and made jokes mixed with bad dinning food and groans of frustration really put a cherry on top of this week. I can't forget people like these. The leadership aspect has been amazing as well. Next year as editor in chief of my schools yearbook, I really need all of the journalism and leadership skills that I've been shown. I am so much more confident in what I can do, by having strong leaders who encourage me to be myself and enjoy what I do.