While at my internship I was exposed to a whole side of broadcasting that I had yet to be exposed to in college. While Northwest has a very “hands on” broadcasting department, I felt like the internship exposed me to a more professional world. It also exposed to me the world of public affairs. It wasn’t until 2010 that I was able to do more in this area, but I had the opportunity to work with two Public Affairs Officers who had unbelievable stories when it came to their jobs. At that point I knew without a doubt I wanted to figure out a way that I could somehow work in the public affairs field.
When I returned back to school after the summer was over, I went to my advisor and added journalism as a second major. I had set a goal before entering college that I would graduate in 3.5 years and in order to still accomplish that goal and manage to get into public affairs, I would have to add journalism instead of switching to public relations.
In September, my Mom and I were shopping at the Independence Mall when we passed Build-A-Bear. At that time they had come out with the “Camo Bear.” I made a comment about it and of course my Mom asked if I wanted one. Even though I insisted that I didn’t, into the store we go to build the bear. You would think the most embarrassing part of building this bear would be being a 20 year old building the bear for myself, but instead it was all the silly things they make you do to the bear before you can put it together. For example: pick a heart, rub it in your hands to "warm it up and give it life", jump up and down, twirl around, make a wish…
A little over a year ago I had been graduated from college for a few months and finally landed a job with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Of course when you say that to people they think it is the most awesome thing in the world. Don’t get me wrong, I was and still am very thankful to have had a fulltime job with benefits during a time when so many recent college graduates are struggling. However, I cannot say that I was overly fond of this job. From the beginning it caused me to “shut down.” As you can tell, I haven’t blogged in over a year. People seemed to invade my life a little too much for the work atmosphere. What seemed to be a job that could just be “left at work” began to follow me. I was unhappy and it reflected and was redirected on relationships outside of work. Within six months I was mentally drained of certain aspects of the position and wanted something new.
In the middle of March I was contacted by the Air Force Public Affairs Civilian Intern Program asking if I would be interested in one of the two positions that they had open. These two locations were Minot AFB in N.D. or Cannon AFB in N.M. I was overly thrilled with the opportunity being presented to me and after much research and consideration I selected to go to Minot AFB based on the overall mission and the location.
Many of you are probably wondering how the Build-A-Bear story ties into this whole post… well, the Air Force allowed me to go to North Dakota for a house-hunting trip (expenses paid). My Mom, Aunt and I planned an extended weekend to make a drive up to see if we could find something worth renting, even though it was a few months out. As I was making my bed before I left, I put all the decorative pillows on my bed (which I rarely do). As I went to place the “Camo Bear” on the bed I realized the wish that I made in 2009 on the heart that I placed inside of the bear had come true.
“I want to be accepted into the public affairs internship program.”
Of course at that time I was referring to the Army internship program because it was the program that my co-workers had made me familiar with and I had never found information on the Air Force program, but at that moment I realized that my wish came true and that all the silly nonsense of jumping and twirling in Build-A-Bear was worth it today.
And on Tuesday, July 10th, I moved to Minot, N.D.
"Mr. Soldier Bear"
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