People Are More Accessible Than You Think

Just go for it. You’ve got nothing to lose (except maybe your self esteem)

In my life I have learned time and time again that people that you find to be important aren’t some far off mythological thing. They’re just humans like you and me and if you have something to say to them, just go ahead and shoot your shot.

When I was in college I was in first year and wanted to take fourth year journalism and writing classes. The only thing that was standing in my way was… well, being a first year. I just went to the professors of the fourth year courses I wanted to take and said “Hey. I think I would be a great addition to your class. I’m keen, love writing, and think I would do a good job.” I gave them a few writing samples and both professors approved me. Why? Because I had the balls to just ask. And confidently.

Then, a local newspaper reporter came into one of those fourth year classes to talk about the inner workings of a newspaper. Before she left campus, I chased her down and pitched an idea. She said she loved my confidence and to write the thing and send it to her. So I did. It was in the paper a few weeks later.

There have, of course, been times that this zealousness has failed. And times when it took twenty tries to get the attention of the person that seemed out of reach, but in the end, all of the experiences have been important ones for me.

There have been a couple of times recently that I have emailed high ups in my city regarding concerns with how things are being run. Because I have established a voice in my community via my local newspaper, people like the school board president pay attention to what I say and I’ve come to see that I can cause real, visible change in my community.

I now have a number of acquaintances on city council through discussing city ideas. Even people like the mayor are closer than you think.

If you want to do something, just go ahead and friggin do it! You can talk to whoever you want and throw around ideas with just about anybody if you learn to do it in a proper and professional manner with confidence.

If something in your community is bugging you or better yet, if you’re really pleased with something: say something. You never know who is listening (or reading!). Once I wrote about how impressed I was with our city for being the pioneers of its gradual opening of the library during the pandemic when everyone else had kept their doors closed and I later found out from a librarian that it was read aloud in the county meeting and discussed for other libraries in the county to further their opening strategies like our city! That was so exciting to me. I didn’t know if anyone much was really reading what I was saying, but it turned out that the right people were paying attention.

Something that freaks me out and makes me nervous right now that I’m interested in doing is hosting a poetry evening at the library. This month is National Poetry Month and I would love to facilitate a place for poets to come and read their material. I have no idea who to ask about facilitating such an event, but I don’t want to let the month slip by without at least trying. Am I ‘qualified’. I don’t friggin know. All I know is I think the event would be really awesome for the community so maybe I can be the one to do it.

You never know unless you ask! You can do all kinds of things. Don’t be afraid to talk to whoever the heck you want to do all of the crazy things you dream up. xo