Growing up in St. Paul, the St. Paul Journal building on main street was a staple and a constant in my memories.
Back then, the building definitely looked different than it does now. And as a kid, I’m sure I only entered through the doors a few times. But one of those times was memorable – it was a one-day job shadow opportunity where I followed a young reporter around, getting some firsthand experience about what it would be like to be a smalltown journalist.
At the time, I was in high school, and I was unsure of what type of post-secondary education I wanted to pursue. All I knew was that I wanted to leave St. Paul.
I’m not sure where the idea of pursuing journalism came from. I probably stumbled upon it as I was looking up various college and university programs. I enjoyed writing - and English and Social Studies came naturally to me.
I sometimes joke with my husband that April O’neil from the Ninja Turtles was my career inspiration, but I really couldn’t see myself climbing through city sewers, no matter how intriguing the story might be.
Once I made the decision to pursue journalism, my mind was set, and there was no turning back. Eventually, I ended up completing my diploma in Print Journalism at SAIT in Calgary.
As a true Millennial, I found myself on the cusp of an industry that was changing amid so much new technology. My college class was the first that didn’t have to dive into a dark room, but instead we learned digital photography. I have always believed in the benefits of a physical, printed product, but I also appreciate the efficiency and accessibility of online news.
So, before I even graduated from the Journalism program, I was offered a job . . . back in my hometown.
It seemed like a good opportunity to gain experience and pay off student loans. My college instructors encouraged me to pursue community journalism, so it seemed like a good starting point.
Little did I know that community journalism would become my life.
Nearly two decades late – it's hard to believe that I am now sitting in an office just a few feet away from my original desk at the St. Paul Journal, working on a story about the 100th anniversary of the newspaper I’ve grown somewhat attached to – a newspaper that has oddly always been a small part of my life.
The pandemic in 2020 was tough. And there were plenty of other challenges along the way – I even quit for one month when my kids were really young, as I struggled to find a proper work-life balance.
But sometimes, if you’re lucky enough, work becomes a passion, and that balance eventually becomes a lot more natural.
