Living the dream- January 29, 2012
When I was seven-years-old I wrote fan mail to my favorite News Anchor, in crayon. With childlike optimism, and a rainbow of colors I predicted my future. I told her I wanted to be on the news one day.
I get to see that woman every time I go to my in-laws’ home. Greyson is from Littleton, Colorado. Adele Arakawa worked in Raleigh before going to Chicago, and then KUSA in Denver.
www.news9.com
In high school I produced, directed, worked the cameras, reported, and anchored for ADTV. What? You mean you don’t know what that is? That’s Athens Drive Television at Athens Drive High School. Oftentimes, even to this day if I see someone from high school, they’ll mention my glory days on the morning announcements. Hey, someone had to deliver the latest breaking news on the Cross Country team practice, or the Chess Club’s victory. It was truly fine journalism.
My senior year, all the kids in my class have to give speeches in front of the church as we graduate. I ended mine with, “I’ll see you on the six ‘o clock news!” Any time I thought about changing majors, or changing professions. I thought about that speech. In my mind, that speech sealed my fate. I wasn’t going to let everyone (translation: me) down.
After finishing my degree in Media Studies at UNC Greensboro and an internship at WGHP I had no money and the lease on my apartment was up. I went home to my parents with no idea what I was going to do.
Somehow I managed a job interview at News 14 Carolina in Raleigh. No one told me walking into that newsroom at 22 years old would change the course of my life.
I was hired as a part-time Associate Producer on the weekends. I wrote scripts for the newscast. Very bad scripts.
That’s okay, though. I mean, I wasn’t gonna stay at that cable news station. Oh no! I had my super awesome reporter resume tape from college. ::snicker:: (No, no one will ever see it, ever. Don’t ask!) I was sending it out to small stations around the Southeast. See, in TV news you start out in small markets in Podunk, USA and work your way up.
That’s what I thought anyway. That is until I met the sports guy at News 14. Who is he? Oh, just the guy I’ve been married to for 6 years and have a kid with. Love has that effect on you.
So I stayed.
I stayed at News 14 knowing it would be hard, well, nearly impossible to start an on-air career at a TV station in a market the size of Raleigh. Even if it is cable.
But, I did it.
I worked up the ranks. As an Assignment Editor I pulled my hair out coordinating the day’s assignments for photographers and reporters. As a Producer I dragged my ragged body into the station at 1:00am to get the morning news on.
I finally got my chance on-air after coming in on my off days to learn to shoot, and edit my own stories. It would still be a couple years of producing and reporting before I started reporting full-time. Even then I worked weekends when my friends played, and worked nights when my husband was home. (He got out of news right after we got married.)
This is me with Air Force One during President Obama's visit to Raleigh sometime in 2009. It had to be the summer because it was HOT on that tarmac!
I did 5:00am live shots and hauled equipment at 8.5 months pregnant. I covered Presidential visits, high-profile murder trials, contentious state elections, marathon school board meetings, and more different types of weather than anyone should have to deal with. I even made it to the anchor desk as a fill-in anchor.
One of the many snow storms I've covered. Snow is big news in the South. We get them in North Carolina, but not as often as hurricanes, it seems. (I'm joking.)
I kept at it.
I never wanted to get to network news. That was never my goal. I wanted to report the news in my hometown. I did.
And now I’m done.
I will miss the occasional celebrity sighting. (Ladies, Jimmie Johnson is even better looking in person and smelled amazing!)
I felt like I owed it to myself to go back after I had my baby. It’s been a whole year since maternity leave and it’s just time to walk away. I’ve accomplished what I wanted to, and now it’s time for new goals.
My step-brother Bryce took this picture of himself one of the nights I anchored. Funny!
This blog has inspired me to embrace the kind of writing I really love. My mom always called writing my “true talent”. I’ve always felt I had to be a little more guarded on my blog compared to other bloggers because of my profession.
It was very serendipitous that I met the president of a local Public Relations firm who needed someone who knows about editing video and writing for social media. After all, I had been complaining around here for some time that I was ready for change. Now I have it. I start my new job February, 8. I’ll have better hours and more time with my family. I can’t wait!
After 8 years this is my last week at News 14. I cried when I told my Assistant News Director I was leaving. I went in a college kid and left a news woman. I grew up there.
I realized the girl who wrote that crayon letter and gave that speech is now a woman. I’m a wife, and mother with different priorities. I’m so proud of what I accomplished in news, but I want something different.
I may not be Adele, but I’m Amy. I’ve lived my dream. Not many people can say that. With a joyful heart, and watery eyes I’ll sign out for the last time Friday, and move on to the next dream.
Spread it around:
I have chills & watery eyes over here! Such a great read & really does give hope to those looking for their “dream” job…. Maybe I’ll find mine one day. Congrats on the new adventure & as always, KEEP BLOGGING! 😀
Thanks so much Julia! Thanks for reading and as far as the dream job goes, I have no advice except perseverance. I hope your perseverance doesn’t include 1am and 4am shifts like me! Ha!
Amy, your mother is right…your writing is “true talent.” I absolutely loved this story about living your dream. I suspect there will be an abundance of “next dreams” for you. And although writing is one of your talents, you have many, many more. I applaud you for making a change, especially when it means you will have more time with Charlotte and Greyson. I wish you the best of everything in your new career; it sounds wonderful. You are a remarkable woman!
Debbie, you are truly a delight! Thank you so much for the kind words. I couldn’t have done what I did without your AMAZING nephew as my husband.
Wow!! Congratulations Amy! What an exciting change you’re making! Normal hours… What’s that again? I’ve been working weekends for so many years I don’t know what that means.
So so happy for you and can’t wait to hear about your new adventures and dreams!!
Thanks Jennifer! I am sad we won’t be “coworkers” anymore but I’m PSYCHED for the new gig. PR jobs are hard to come by and I couldn’t pass it up.
I’m so proud of you Amy!!
Thanks! I was thinking of you today! ::muah::
We watched you grow up. You were the girl on the floor in the dance studio lobby pulling things out of her bag like Mary Poppins. With all the little “dance company mini” girls on the floor around her. Oh, how they looked up to you. Then you were on TV, and they looked up to you even more. What an inspiration! Not everyone sets their sights on a dream and never stops ’til they live it. We can’t wait to see what your next adventure will be. Keep writing, and keep believing in yourself! And teach that pretty little girl to dream big, too. From all the “moms” at the dance studio, We love you.
Nancy,
This is so kind! Thank you so much! This means a lot! I love keeping up with your lovely daughters as they have grown up. You must be so proud of them! I hope I raise a daughter as nice as your two girls. Thank you for reading!
What a beautiful story written by an incredible woman. You are very talented and believe me, we were lucky to have you here at News 14 and you will be missed. While being a newswoman is exciting, there is nothing better than being a mom and spending time being able to watch your children grow. Charlotte is one lucky little girl. You will be missed here in the mornings Amy, but you will always be a friend.
Marti,
You have been the nicest surprise as a new “work friend”. We are lucky to have you! I know you’ll be the person taking the station to the next level! I’ll miss working with you!
Amy,
What an awesome story! I will miss our news connection, but am SO excited for you (and a bit jealous) in this new adventure which allows you more family time and flexibility. Keep writing and sharing. Hopefully, our paths will cross again.
I’ll miss you too Julia! (But I won’t miss hurricanes. Ha!) I remember being jealous of you because you were a PR person, and not in news. Ha! I’m sure we’ll run into each other soon. Thanks for reading!
Such a great read! So glad that your life is changing to match your dreams. You deserve it – I’m just glad I caught one of your news reports live before it was all said and done. Great experiences and you made everyone proud!
Thanks so much Meredith! When did you see me? Where was I?
Congradulations Amy! We all thought we knew what we really wanted back then and I’m super proud to know someone who went out there and got it. But you didnt stop there and that is truely inspirational. Way to go!!!
Hey! Thank you so much! That means a lot! How are you? I hope things are going well!
I’ve always admired people who were able to discern at such a young age what their dreams were and actually worked hard to pursue and fulfill their dreams. What a blessing to recognize and use your gifts and talents to the max. Way to go, Amy! Congratulations on a dream fulfilled and new dreams to conquer!
Thanks so much! I’m so excited!
Good luck Amy, you will be great. And you will truly enjoy having “regular hours”! Enjoy that baby…it goes by so fast.
Good luck!
Andi
Thanks Andi! I love being a Mama and I hope this new job gives me even more time to do it! We’ll see!
Congratulations!!!! I’m so happy for you!
Congratulations, Amy! How exciting that you were able to do the job you wanted to do for so long – but also that you’ve found the courage to walk away in search of a new dream. Good luck with the new position!
Thanks so much! Kisses to Miss I! 😉
I totally got chill bumps reading this post! Congratulations on all you have accomplished! You totally rock! Good luck on your new job! I’m sure you’ll rock it too1
Thanks Jamee! I enjoy running into you on Twitter! Thanks so much for reading this post. It’s always nice to have other bloggers read when you’ve poured your heart out. 😉
[…] eight years in television news. I was a reporter for the last four and ready for a change. Here’s the story. I may be the luckiest woman in history with my 4 1/2 hour childbirth. Of course that was after […]
What a great story!! From the story and picture it looked like you were a great reporter and anchor, and everything else (it seems like you did everything)! Your new job seems very fun too, I’d love that job! Can’t wait to read more about everything!