Leaving Medill



“So, you’re thinking about transferring out of Medill?”













“It just wasn’t my thing,” I said.





They’re both beautiful. I hate them both.










“Good luck, my dear,” she said.

















  1. the_patches says

    Every so often you write something on your blog that reaches right into my life and my experiences and my heart breaks a little for myself and for you.

    I apologize for the cheesy poetry, but thank you.

  2. Priscilla says

    Mmm. Thanks for sharing. Definitely raises an interesting question. Perhaps what you “want to be” changed as you understood more of yourself, and you still “can be” that.

    Congratulations on leaving Medill and for being accepted into the Honors Psychology program! =)

  3. Kevin says

    I was a daily newspaper schlub for 15 years before moving on to greener pastures.
    Sometimes, people want to tell their stories. Prohibiting contact with those in grief does not do them any great favors.
    Those in grief want people to know that someone who died tragically was loved and was a “real” person; not just a statistic. They actually desire media contact.
    Most difficult thing I ever did was interview family members of someone who was murdered. Heck, I was the first one to tell someone that “Uncle Earl” had been hatcheted to death by his son. They even gave me a photograph of both of them to use in the paper. And they thanked me for helping them honor someone they cherished.
    Journalism isn’t a profession for everyone. It’s damned hard work, and the vast majority of it is underpaid and underappreciated. But you’re not selling your soul by asking someone to tell their side of the story. You’re treating them with respect. Now, they might not recognize it at the time, and those whose hands are caught in some kind of cookie jar might not appreciate your questions. But how much worse would it be to just have the accuser’s side of the story?

    • says

      This is a personal piece about my own life and is not intended to offer commentary, negative or otherwise, on the profession of journalism in general. I have decided that the only context in which I’m comfortable asking people I don’t know about their grief is as a therapist. If you’ve chosen a different path, that’s your choice and I’d respect it.