As a 14-year-old I measured in at about 4'8". I weighed 85 pounds soaking wet, had knobby knees and big ears and was the starting point guard for my summer league basketball team. I had a coach who taught me to be fierce, to go after the ball at any cost and to come out of every game bruised and exhausted, knowing I gave every bit of effort I had in that hour of basketball. Our team ended with a winning record, but that summer taught me more than just how to dribble, pass and shoot. It taught me if I want something, I have to go for it. I was even voted "Most Aggressive." Things in my life sure have changed.
I'm graduating in June. No employer has offered me an interview, much less an actual job. I haven't even had internship offers, and most of my friends, graduating or not, at least have one of those to carry them through the summer. My problem could be the struggling economy — tight times do call for hiring freezes. But more than likely, my lack of job offers is a result of my lack of applications. I haven't sent out a single résumé and graduation is two weeks away.
My summer basketball coach always told us "the ball is in your court." If you want to score, you have to take the shot. If you want the ball, you have to reach in and grab it. If I want a job, I damn well better apply for one. The ball is in my court.
Last year I shadowed a magazine editor in Chicago. She read my résumé. I passed her the ball. She gave me suggestions for fleshing out my meager experience and told me to keep in touch. The ball was back in my court. I sent her one or two e-mails and lost contact with her. The ball bounced out of bounds.
Last quarter I went to an editing conference, again in Chicago. In addition to seminars about improving description and grammar in news writing, I made contacts with reporters and editors at newspapers. We had drinks, meals and discussions. I passed them the ball. They gave me business cards. The ball was back in my court. I didn't e-mail or write to any of the people I met. The ball bounced out of bounds.
Last week I met with two editors from a Long Island newspaper. I asked them to critique my résumé. I passed them the ball. They offered advice, told me what was wrong with how I presented my experiences and gave me a list of places to apply. The ball is in my court. And instead of being aggressive, I'm afraid to take the shot.
After 18 years of school, I know exactly what I want to do. I want it more than I've ever wanted anything in my life, even scoring the winning basket in a conference championship game: I want to be a reporter. And I want to be good. But to get there, I'm going to have to take some chances. I'm going to have to stop being so afraid and get back to being "Most Aggressive." I'm going to have to get off the bench I've been warming and get on the court and take some shots. I've spent 22 years practicing my shooting form, 22 years perfecting my defensive style. I've passed the ball to family, friends, professors and colleagues. They've coached me how to play this game. But practice is over. The ball is in my court. And it's not going anywhere until I do something with it.
Arenschield is a senior journalism major and Associate Editor for The Post who wants to encourage all other lackadaisical graduates to apply for at least one job today. Send her an e-mail at laura.arenschield@ohiou.edu.
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Laura Arenschield
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Laura Arenschield
