By: Elena Pejic
When I was applying to BU, I selected Journalism as my major, but I had never done an interview. I had never given a pitch. I never even wrote an article. I applied out of respect for the profession and a passion for learning the truth.
So, unsurprisingly, when I started writing for The Daily Free Press and took COM 101, I was overwhelmed to say the least. However, looking back, I am beyond thankful for that experience, as there is truly no better way to learn than to do.
As I approach the end of my freshman year, I want to offer some advice to anyone considering or transferring into a major they are passionate about but not very knowledgeable about.
1. Don’t compare yourself.
When I went to my first pitch meeting for The Daily Free Press I began to doubt my abilities not based on what I knew, but what others did. I sat next to girls who were Editor-in-Cheifs at their high school and who had already conducted countless interviews and pitch meetings before stepping foot on campus. Now, I work alongside these girls as we write articles together and they have even become some of my great friends here.
2. Don’t fear criticism (too much).
As I got the edits back on my first article, the whole thing was rearranged and rewritten. I was shocked when I opened the document, but as I began reading the final version, I realized I could have done at least five things better immediately. This is to say that in any academic field, you will fail, yet it is what you do with that failure that matters. Now, I get slightly fewer edits on my article, and while I am no expert yet, I feel much more confident in my abilities only because there were people to tell me how I messed up.
3. Ask for help.
While writing my first article, I was so overwhelmed by the deadline and the pressure to “get it right” that I forgot about all the resources out there to help. It wasn’t until after that that I thought to go look at other articles on The Daily Free Press’s website or text my editor for a guide on how to write a title. It is never embarrassing to ask for help, especially when you are new to something, because it often makes it easier for both parties. You will understand the task at hand much more quickly if it is straight from the source, and the person you are asking will save time later by cleaning up your mistakes.
All in all, if you are passionate about something, pursue it. It doesn’t matter if someone else has more experience or more connections. What will really matter is who works harder, and passion is arguably one of the most important factors in motivating that success.