From the time I entered school—and I’m talking elementary school—I knew I wanted a career that involved writing, and lots of it. What I wanted to write about, however, was uncertain.
Immediately after graduating college, I entered the media world. Entry-level positions at a B2B magazine and national newspaper were fun. I worked with really smart people who were committed to investigative journalism. However, I personally didn’t feel passionate about the work I was doing.
After a year and a half of commuting two hours to New York City, I had had it. I wasn’t feeling fulfilled enough by my job to justify the pure exhaustion I felt every day. I began mass applying to any job that had anything to do with writing, and one day I got an email about a staff writer position for K12 and higher ed magazines. The role I accepted was one that would allow me to write features and news stories about high-level issues in education, as well as work with the companies that serve these markets to create sponsored content.
Initially, it was “just a job.” It was a doable commute, and I enjoyed my coworkers and boss. But soon enough, as I really got to learn the industry, I had finally found something about which I simply loved to write. And a big part of that was the personal connection I had to the power of higher education.
As a low-income, first-generation student, I knew pretty much nothing about the realities of attending and financing college. All I knew was that I was smart, had good grades and test scores in high school and that I would succeed—simply because I didn’t consider any other option for myself. It was when I started working at University Business that I became aware of all of the programs and policies that higher ed institutions put into place to help students just like me. I got to talk to financial aid experts about driving down student loan default rates and educating students on the amount they borrow. I got to interview a university president about lowering the tuition of his institution’s law school—and recruit him to speak at my company’s annual technology conference. Among my other favorite topics were campus AV, higher ed and the Internet of Things and unique financing initiatives.
I just loved interacting with campus leaders about what they were doing at their schools, and figuring out a compelling story to tell our readers. And that’s why, when it was time for a new job, I knew working at TVP Communications would be a perfect fit. Colleges and universities provide no shortage of fascinating—and utterly important—stories to tell. I’m honored to keep telling them.