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Dearest gentle reader,
Oops! Wrong word doc.
Now, where was I? Yes! Many of you know me as the voice of the Career Center’s blog and LinkedIn posts. Few of you know me as the writer behind it all.
Allow me to finally introduce myself, my name is Raigan Clay. I am a rising senior reigning all the way from Houston, Texas. At the University of Missouri, I am earning my bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication. I am heavily involved on campus namely in organizations like Matchbook Marketing, Her Campus Magazine, Visual Communications Club, KCOU 88.1 FM and the National Association of Black Journalists. Whew…that was a mouthful!
So… from my involvement can you guess what I want to do when I “grow up”? I want to be a writer! Which is what initially brought me to the j-school. I mean the #1 journalism school in the world, how could I say no! I will admit, I’m long… long way from home. 12 hours and 40 minutes away from home to be exact. And for some reason, like most angsty teens, I couldn’t wait for the day I could move across the country. In retrospect, I’m not sure why I wanted to “grow up” and leave home so badly. But it’s not a decision I would take back for anything. My time at Mizzou has shaped me into the woman I’ve always been destined to be.
Particularly, this year I made one of the biggest academic changes I’ve made since coming to Mizzou. Initially I came into the J-school as a bright-eyed reporting and writing student. But after taking all the necessary pre-requisites and finally making it to my first newsroom class, it was like everything began to click all at once. This fall I took Reporting and Writing I, the first gateway course during my tenure on the reporter track in the j-school.
My first choice in the newsroom was VOX, the student staffed magazine because I had always dreamed of going into magazine writing. But instead, I was assigned to the kindergarden-12th grade section of the Columbia Missourian Newspaper. And while it wasn’t my first pick, I was able to learn so much about what it means to be a good reporter, proficiency in AP style and pitching to different editors.
Through the close guidance and mentorship from my section editor, Elizabeth Brixey she saw in me what I couldn’t see. She saw that my heart was elsewhere. After many long, honest and formative conversations, we came to the consensus that my talents might be better suited outside of the Missourian. Liz saw that my love for the arts and culture ran deeper than what I was working on at the Missourian and that I might find a more suitable home in strategic communication. And weirdly, it didn’t feel like goodbye; it felt like I was finally stepping into my true calling.
So, before I registered for the spring semester, I changed my emphasis to strategic communication, opening the door to what I hope will be a fruitful career as a creative. Since making that decision, I’ve seen my world blossom before my eyes. I started this wonderful position at the career center as a content writer, further honing my voice while creating meaningful work for the students of Mizzou. I’ve also recently taken on a role at the J-school as a public relations coordinator. Taking that leap of faith allowed me the space to position myself with work that closely aligns with my creative passions!
My advice? Bet on yourself, don’t be afraid of change, everything you’re looking for might be on the other side of combatting fear. I’m of the belief that if I put my head down, work hard while doing what I love everything I am praying for will find its way to me when the time is right. So, take this as your sign to keep going even when you feel lost or like you don’t have all the pieces put together yet!
Until next time,
Raigan Clay