Almost There

I remember knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up when I was sitting in Mrs. Ponder’s seventh- grade English class. We were working on revising papers we had been writing for weeks, the subject of which I can’t recall anymore, when she called me up to her desk. “Oh no, I’m in trouble,” I thought. As I nervously made my way to her and sat down, she took off her glasses and folded her hands on her desk and said, “Audrey, you are a wonderful writer.” After discussing my paper for a few minutes, she asked me if I had any idea of what I wanted to do with my life and I replied, “I want to be a journalist.”

Other than dreaming of being a ballerina at five, I have never wanted to do anything else besides write. For as long as I can remember, I have been jotting down my thoughts and dreams into the numerous journals I’ve accumulated over the years. Once I got to high school, I knew I wanted to be on the newspaper staff, and after my first semester I was one of four freshmen who were asked to join as a reporter. It was there I really started to understand and appreciate the art of journalism. I will never forget the last words of advice my adviser and mentor told me before I graduated. She said “Keep writing. As long as you’re writing, you will never have a bad day.”

So here I am.

My name is Audrey Barron, and I’m a junior journalism public relations major at Baylor University. More importantly, I am the newest intern at TSTC Publishing. With this internship, I finally feel like my life is starting to take off. It sounds weird, I know, but I have always felt my life is on hiatus while I receive my education. “Real life,” as I like to call it, doesn’t start until I’m in the “real world.” I hope to gain valuable skills and the necessary experience that will prove to be beneficial for me in the future.

I’m from Spring, Texas, a suburb northwest of Houston.  My parents are Longhorn fans and my older brother is an Aggie which always makes for a very exciting Thanksgiving. It’s fun for me, I just slip on a Baylor shirt, sit back and enjoy the shouting and silly banter over the football game, one of my favorite sports to watch. I may not know every rule and regulation, but watching a good game on TV is a favorite pastime of mine.

I also love music and movies. I am always searching for new music and anticipating the newest blockbuster release. One of my newest favorite movies is Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog.” I’m a sucker for fairy tales, as I assume most girls are. But this one is different. Tiana, the main character, is a hard worker with plans to make her dream come true on her own. In my favorite song of the movie, she sings these words:

There’ve been trials and tribulations; you know I’ve had my share

But I’ve climbed the mountain and I’ve crossed the river

And I’m almost there, I’m almost there

Those words mirror how I feel at this very moment. I haven’t exactly had trials and tribulations, but through the process of growing up, living on my own and now with this new internship, I feel as if I’m almost there. I’m starting a new chapter of my life and with only a year and a half until I graduate, I’m almost there.

Audrey