Why I want to be a nail tech

Nails, nails, nails!

In a previous post, I talked about my interest in journalism and history. I love these topics because they have taught me so much in college. I feel prepared to take on the world one article at a time. Journalism is important to me because as I think about the craft that goes behind creating articles, I appreciate why headlines are shortened and why columns are cut off between pages. I can understand why headlines are so concise across headlines in broadcast television news channels and why news anchors speak in short and quick sentences. *I always felt like they spoke like robots, hehe* However, I appreciate my education in the news because it has helped me become an overall better reader and a more thoughtful creative writer. I feel as if a key opened a new door within me that allows me to better enjoy literature and dialogues in a way that I would have never been able to do so before I learned about journalism.

Now, I feel that it is time to make a change. I feel as if my creative bones are waking to paint new stories. I don't really want to lay down my education forever but I think I will pick up after a break. I will just briefly talk about another career option that I love so much and why I would use it to supplement my creative juices.

As I think about being more creative, I would venture into a nail design. I love the idea of becoming a nail tech. I love the idea of being girly. I think I would love to learn about the process for nail design, playing with colors and building a stunning portfolio of glitters and gems that would please my clients. However, coming to think of the process in actual application is a scary concept because I might make a mess of my clients hands. Haha, I'm only joking but I only hope not. I can only dream of making something so pretty as the tutorials I see on youtube.

Moreover, if I ever did nails I do not think I would completely walk away from my love of writing and history. I would probably pursue a degree online and keep a part-time job as a nail tech, English teacher or history teacher. This is on the drawing board and as I think about it and pray about it; I know I will be led in the right direction. I have other wonderful things in mind as well.

What do you think? Is this fun? Should I commit to one subject or the other? Should I adopt both? What are your interests? Leave a comment below if you identify with my predicaments or you would care to leave some insight that I might have not caught onto. I'm thankful for your advice.

Why I enjoy and dislike journalism writing

Journalism is so strict but in a good way. Journalism gives writers the structure they need to write in uniformity with other writers. I can understand how uniformity helps journalists create an effective copy but whoever really checks their AP style all day every day? 

However, I can't tell you how much journalism writing and editing gave me the discipline to wring out the adjective vomit from my over-wordy writing style. I am thankful for it because now that I am finishing up my BA program I feel like I can fully understand creative writing and how other authors use their adjectives and adverbs to sprinkle flavor into their prompts without creating a tomato word sauce that no one will later understand.

Therefore, I figured that if I went into a newsroom and wrote something for work I could go back later on my time and write fiction. My mind could not disagree more. As I was filling out my resume and thinking about actually writing journalism, my mind froze up and got that same sharp shooting pain. What do you think? Do I need a doctor?

I never feel this way, only when I read for long periods of time. This never happens when I write. 

History is just journalism on a bookshelf

I am kind of a history buff. I can talk to you about dates and settings but names still get past me sometimes. I love the idea of researching information about the past like in the medieval and renaissance periods. Sometimes, I find myself looking up information on historical websites that illustrate characters from the 14th and 15th centuries. I like to think about the troubadours, dressed in their attire, with their lutes in hand. I also like to think about maiden's dresses and how their skirts fell in flowing layers around their ankles. Time after time I find myself daydreaming about this time period that I expect to schedule a trip to California's Renaissance fair as soon as I get my life together up and running. It will be so much fun to finally walk around in the time period that I was meant to be born in. Therefore, I imagined that taking a break from journalism writing to earn my master's in history would be a good idea but I feel judged by certain people in my life for having to start another BA to earn an MA in history. My first journalism teacher once said that journalism is really an archive of history. Part of the researching new stories asks reporters to go back into the chronicles of reporters who once were to find out if something was already reported. What I can really talk to you about in this post is how I feel about history versus journalism, the reasons why I love both and why I would lay down one subject to pursue the other.

So in my opinion, I love journalism because of the tradition that comes behind it. In school, we learn about the worth of the first amendment, its position as a watchdog in the fourth estate, and ethical concerns that are meant to guide journalists in practice. All of these sacred traditions are essential to preserving the democracy at which we live in. Also, I am so very thankful for the dedication that other editors and proofreaders have taught me when it comes to crafting words. Before I took journalism classes, I could not understand why headlines were so short and choppy or why columns got lost from A1 to A6 behind another headline that has nothing to do with the other four pages in front of it. Honestly, I feel caught up now and like I can pick up any newspaper and know what is going on in the world.

Then there is history, as I mentioned previously I love going back and reading about other characters. I will imagine myself traveling back time and in another setting as a reporter in the outskirts observing soldiers in battle, coming to triumph and creating relations with their kings and queens. I would want to become an author one day so if I ever found the time to dedicate to research, I would go back and think about King Arthur and his knights in the midst of a whole new plot. 

 However, do I really need another degree to prove that I know my dates? I could even work in a newsroom and search archives on my breaks to see what I could find, haha. Or I could even do something else completely different and research on my own time? Who knows.

However, there is another reason why I do not want to go into the fast-paced world of journalism. I feel so conflicted because I can't seem to understand why on earth I love to read so much but reading doesn't love me. On occasions when I am reading, I feel a sharp headache as I concentrate on text for long periods of time. I feel so bad that the other night I had a nightmare with a 15th-century soldier in battle getting his brains repeatedly knocked in by a sword. Then I felt a soft voice in my sleep ask me if I really want to keep reading? Hmmmmm, I woke up and tried to expel those GOT thoughts from my mind as soon as I could. A few days later, and I am still thinking about my headaches versus love for history. What if I take a break from college for some time. I could always go back and get my Master's in Communications.

So on one hand, I love writing and history. On the other hand, I find it difficult to keep my attention on school for long periods of time. I feel the need to push myself every time I write everyday. However, I think I will need to take a break from the books for a moment to let my mind rest. I hope my mind's sharp pains aren't very serious. If it hurts too much I might need a physician. What do you think? Am I exaggerating o do I need a doctor? haha

BA in journalism now what?

As a budding writer, I found the need for structure to help me understand other writing techniques. So I did my BA in Journalism and Mass communications online. The courses superseded my expectations. I got to learn how to write and build a portfolio of magazine articles, blogs and two team publication websites that would make me look really good in front of employers. However, I do not think that journalism is the way for me to go for various reasons that I will talk about in another post. Essentially, I feel that my health and other aspects of my personal life do not make feel like I am the right fit for news writing right now. I want to become an author, so I did brief research in creative writing. I have not found any programs to my liking. I also considered committing to a history major and . as a way to research facts for my own personal projects for historical fiction novels but I think that might be a little excessive. If I do not do that I would like to pursue teaching English because it would be a great way of maintaining my proofreading skills.

I also love art. I considered culinary school, art school, and nail tech. These are all different things avenues I could take with me into my writing career down the road but I will have to take the plunge. On one hand, I like culinary school because I feel close to my dad and younger sibling. However, we aren't so close so I don't feel as motivated to commit. I also love painting but I just do not see how I will ever pay the bills by painting canvases. However, I asked myself how I could ever become a nail tech and put food on the table. I never thought it was possible until I did a quick research on technical schools in my area. In fact, many technical schools offer cosmetology programs at affordable prices. Nail tech school would be something that I would commit to part-time because it would be a fun outlet to express myself and build a client-based relationship with other females who like to express themselves through their nail designs.

I even considered a career in law: in law enforcement, the military, and security guard. I consider this in part for my own personal experience to exercise my interest for the public service. My parents were strict growing up, so I feel flashbacks sometimes when I consider going into the military. I am a reserved, petite 5' 0" young twenty-something. I know everyone is different and I might not be the strongest, fastest, or the quickest but if I ever do go into the military, I will have to conquer my fears and just go.

In the meantime, I am praying, waiting and listening to how my heart inclines towards my needs and desires.