Talk about a true core memory! This blog post was almost written as a journal entry and then I said to myself, “aht, aht!” as this special occasion deserves so much more than that. I visited the network where I started my career as a journalist last Thursday and the memories came rushing back. Yeah! Life comes at you fast because before I could even walk through the front revolving doors, I ran into a now Senior Producer of the crime documentary show where my career kicked off as a 20 something year old media girlie. I don’t know why I’m always surprised when the folks I know from 10+ years ago recognize me as if my face has changed. Newsflash to me, it hasn’t!
Just sitting in the lobby brought me back to the days where I was an 0ver-dressed but always fashionable intern with a sling messenger bag. C’mon, you know I had to paint the picture! Now, the million dollar question, what was I doing back there exactly? Well, it’s no surprise that Hamptonians stick together. Shoutout to Hampton University of course! I got invited to watch the evening broadcast show by a fellow HU alum and former colleague since I mentioned was in the city that day and we were well overdue for an in-person catch up. It’s been about six months since I’ve been in a traditional newsroom setting daily and getting that behind-the-scenes look made me feel really grateful about the hard work I’d put in over the years and mostly importantly and despite everything, it all still counts. It was a gentle reminder.
That experience combined with me recently checking out the exclusive screening for the new Black soap show, Beyond the Gates, brought out some career FOMO in me that I didn’t realize existed. Watching the red carpet moments and hearing the moderator get juicy soundbites from the cast had me hanging on to every last word as if I was in back in the newsroom with headphones on ready to write copy and hit publish. I was just happy to be in the room but at the same time, knew that I more than deserved to be there. Since I’ve relocated back to my home state of New Jersey after being in Los Angeles for almost three years, these are the priceless moments I could’ve never dreamt up.
Until next time ….
Sincerely,
KJC