Summary

Sarah Seweryniak's journey from aspiring actress to broadcast journalism intern, and eventually to a fulfilling career in print journalism, illustrates a personal transformation driven by self-discovery and the pursuit of passion over practicality.

Abstract

Sarah Seweryniak's career path took an unexpected turn when an internship at a local broadcast station revealed the harsh realities of the industry, leading her to realize that the profession was not her true calling. Despite the intense pressure and competitive nature of broadcast journalism, which was exemplified by a hectic incident during a live show, Sarah found her passion lay in writing. She transitioned to a role at a local newspaper, where she discovered a sense of fulfillment and purpose in telling people's stories. This shift in career direction, prompted by a willingness to learn and the guidance of mentors, allowed Sarah to find a vocation that resonated with her values and aspirations.

Opinions

Broadcast journalism was perceived as a "cutthroat" industry, which was a significant factor in Sarah's decision to pursue a different career path.
The internship experience, although challenging, was invaluable in providing Sarah with the resilience and self-awareness necessary for personal and professional growth.
Sarah initially approached her writing career with skepticism about her abilities but embraced the opportunity to learn and develop her skills.
The author values the mentorship she received during her internships, acknowledging its

How My Career Went into A Different Direction Than I Expected

An internship helped me realize my planned path wasn’t what I wanted

I’ve always loved movies. When my dad asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I told him I wanted to be an actress. When I was a senior in high school, I decided to be practical and pursue broadcast journalism.

I majored in Communications in college. The most incredible thrill came when I received an opportunity to intern at a local broadcast station. My dream of being behind the camera was becoming a reality.

Unfortunately, through the experience, I realized working in broadcasting wasn’t for me. I didn’t realize how “cutthroat” broadcast journalism is. My life was playing out like Winona Ryder’s character in Reality Bites.

My daily life interning at a broadcast station

The station was going through intense lay-offs. This meant interns were taking on more than usual. It was good hands-on experience, but it was at the cost of someone losing their job. And it’s hard watching amazing and talented people get let go.

I had a wonderful mentor who looked after me, advised me and gave me strength. I knew if I could survive that internship that I could tackle anything life threw at me.

The moment I knew this wasn’t for me

As anyone can imagine a newsroom is hectic. But to live it is a whole another experience.

The majority of my day dealt with preparing for that day’s broadcast and buttoning up the next day’s show by confirming guests. The show I worked on ran for an hour. During that time, I would either be in the studio or control room.

One day I got called into the control room. It was a muggy summer afternoon and the room was dark and crowded. When I popped my head in, my mentor called for me.

“We’re running five minutes short on the show,” stated my mentor. “We need to fill the time. You need to run to grab a pre-recorded segment. You only have the commercial break to do that. Hurry, GO!”

A commercial break usually lasts four minutes.

I had to run up to another floor where our offices were. Find a specific story. Get it to the control room and queue it up in four minutes.

I was in shape, so I ran so fast. I got to the bookshelf that houses the pre-recorded packages. My heart was pumping so hard I could feel the thumping going into my head. Adrenaline had my hands shaking to the point I couldn’t grab anything.

I used my trembling finger to scan the pre-recorded packages. I looked at my phone. I had no idea how much time had passed since I left the control room. I kept scanning. I couldn’t find it.

This was one of those moments where life felt like a movie. Time stood still. It began to feel like an eternity had passed. It was over. I knew it. “I screwed this up so bad,” I thought. “My career is over before it ever began.”

At that moment I finally found the package. I grabbed it and ran downstairs. When I entered the control room, I saw I had seconds to spare. To this day, I have no idea how I did it. As they say, “where there is a will, there is a way.”

It was at that moment I realized this wasn’t for me. I didn’t want to spend my life and career feeling like a ball of nerves. I didn’t want to develop an ulcer in my stomach. I wanted to feel fulfilled, not like I was going to have a heart attack.

Another path reveals itself

When I realized broadcasting wasn’t for me, I felt lost. This is what I spent the majority of my life focused on doing. Luckily, I had time to complete another internship. This time I focused on writing and took a gig at a local newspaper.

The truth is, I didn’t think I’d be a print journalist. I always hated writing papers for classes. I also didn’t think I was a good writer. But, I had a willingness to learn and another incredible mentor. The newspaper was my first job after college and it was the best job I’ve ever had.

Being a reporter, especially for a smalltown newspaper, was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I met incredible people and I told some remarkable stories. I had the honor of sharing people’s triumphs and tragedies. Their stories became a piece of me.

My experience in broadcasting revealed an unlikely path. Each chapter in the story of our life leads us to something. I never saw myself becoming a writer, but I’m a better and more fulfilled person because of that internship.

About the Author

Sarah Seweryniak was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. Sarah’s writing career has spanned over a decade, writing for local newspapers and online publications. She loves writing pieces that connect, inform, and inspire. In her downtime, she loves spending time with her husband and daughter. Subscribe to her e-mail list by clicking here.