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When I first stepped into the News-Bulletin office, I didn’t know what to expect. I felt out of place at first, but I slowly began to understand the environment and how this job is filled with spontaneous experiences.
In the beginning, I had no direction, so I spent my time sweeping floors and organizing the heavy archives. Then, I started joining my coworkers at various events.
I remember specifically that the first event I ever attended was a free-speech protest. My mission was to take photos. I asked my manager if it was safe to take photos in an environment like that. She said yes, but the entire time I felt anxious, scared someone might smack the camera out of my hands. Nothing happened, though, and I ended up capturing some meaningful historical moments.
After that, I began taking photos at local events, the car show, Oktoberfest and the town meeting in Bosque Farms. What I learned from all these experiences was how to converse with the locals and the public, how to step out of my comfort zone and speak to people at different businesses, such as daycares, restaurants, veterinary clinics and construction sites.
When I was working on the 2025 Best of Valencia County project, I had the opportunity to speak with some of the best people in Valencia County. Understanding everyone’s character helped me see what traits, in their personality or even their DNA, made them excel in their fields.
What I found was that they were all hardworking and skilled in public relations. They knew how to converse with people, when to let others speak, what words to use to engage their audience and how to create a charm that resonates with others.
With that being said, one natural talent I’ve always had is speaking. I can talk for hours and tell a good story, verbally. When I think about future career paths, I’m drawn to jobs that involve communication, roles where I can directly engage with others.
Growing up, I was always good at winning arguments, so becoming a lawyer seemed reasonable at first. During my freshman year, I majored in law. The first three law classes I took were interesting at the start, but I gradually realized it wasn’t for me. I didn’t quite fit in with my peers, they were nice, of course, but many had big egos. I soon realized I wouldn’t want a career constantly surrounded by that environment.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that to be good at a job, you should choose something you’re naturally good at. For some people, that’s math, science or English. My friend, Hannah, for example, is great at training people who want to achieve a certain aesthetic. She knows exactly which muscles to engage and how to engage them. She grew up in a family that worked out more than most, and her father taught her the essential basics. Now, she’s a fitness trainer who’s passionate about what she does.
There’s that saying, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” My friend, Nevaeh, on the other hand, chose photography. She now takes engagement photos and travels the world.
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There are many paths one can take in this lifetime. You can always change your path, just make sure that whatever you do suits you, and that you’re not letting others pressure you into something that isn’t meant for you.
In life, you’ll face many decisions, but I believe you should always follow your intuition.
