My 10-year Career Plan by Jaidyn

My 10-year Career Plan by Jaidyn - March 2020 Scholarship Essay

If someone would have asked me what dream I wanted to fulfill my freshman year of high school, I would have been very hesitant to answer that question. It wasn’t until I moved from a large city to a small, rural town that I’d ever considered what my future may hold.
I grew up in a mildly populated area where crime rates and violence were at an all-time high. The high school that I was attending lacked discipline and educational value which caused my grades to suffer tremendously. I was a very intelligent student but I did not apply myself when it came to academics. Although I did not make the best grades, I was a member of the jazz, marching, and concert band which I heavily relied on to keep me disciplined.
My whole demeanor changed when I transferred schools. At first, I was shocked due to cultural differences. Everyone wore cowboy boots with snap back hats, something I was not used to. After a few weeks, the country-western theme became familiar to me. Along the way of my academic path, I was placed into an Oral Communications class. I was not very fond of speaking in front of an audience due to my introverted personality, but my fear later became my best friend.
English was always my strongest subject so I assumed that writing speeches were going to be very easy for me. I was correct. My teacher was very observant of my performance and constantly gave me positive criticism. I considered her words and started writing more often. I soon realized that I had a passion for this subject and wanted to continue sharing my works with others. It is my dream to become a journalist; capturing eccentric stories for the media. Since I have set this goal for myself, my academic and behavioral performance has drastically changed. This is very exciting for me because I know that I have a secured spot in college to further my career in journalism.
Within the next four years, I plan to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications while actively seeking a job in the media field. A Mass Communications degree opens up doors to a spectrum of careers; therefore, I will accept any position in the media field, considering it will be a first time experience. After building a strong work ethic, I will transfer to a journalism position where I will begin writing for the local newspaper. During the six years after graduating from college, I will continue to work, hopefully advancing to a higher position in journalism that allows me to travel all over the country. My biggest career goal is to report on global situations, so setting a ten-year plan will greatly influence my chances of accomplishing my dreams.