Future Me?

In the first unit of the course Endurance, we studied a hero's journey and a dream that Morpheus gives us. We learned each step of a hero’s journey, the most common are ordinary life, call to action, refusal of call, mentor, crossing the threshold, tests, rebirth, road back and return. For an FE, we went to a dojo where the martial arts are sacred. We started of easy in a park, on our way back we did different exercises and when we got to the dojo we did intense exercise. Everyone was so tired and exhausted. The purpose of this FE is to endure the exercise. We all did, but the days to come was so much pain, we were so sore especially our legs. For our action project, we had to write an autobiography in the future. Writing about our call to action and experiences that made us to where we got in the future. I chose to see myself as a successful hostess because I am going to study communications in college. During this project I struggled with coming up with a convincing story of my future. I learned how to make a digital cover. To know more about how I plan my future check out my autobiography below.

KIS, Autobiography Bookcover. 2017.

It all started when I was in my teens. I was introduced to the world of communication by a lady who owns a radio internet station. I was invited to a show she produces in her station. I was invited because I was in many beauty pageants and they wanted to know how I stay healthy in that type of environment and how I felt participating in them. I was honored to be interviewed. As soon as I entered the building I met up with her and she gave me a tour of the building and I was so impressed. At that time I was exploring what I wanted to do in college and for the rest of my life. I was so frustrated and confused because I didn’t know what to do and nothing medical or engineering called my attention. I was really worried to go to college and not know what my career is. That’s when I got my call to action. I was called to choose communication as my career.

I stayed in touch with her and about 2 years later I had my own show. My theme was quinceaneras and sweet 16 because it connects to my culture and I want to embrace it. My show was meant to help girls plan their 15 and 16 party. I had an hour show every Sunday and I hosted with two other girls. We came up with the content, reached out to services to get a deal to provide it exclusively on our show and we had a phone that our audience can call and talk to us. We had many guest from people providing services, to mom and daughter sharing their experience of their party to young girls sharing their vision for their party and helping them plan it. We had the show for 1 year and a half. We had to end it because of money and time. I was sad, but that gave me the opportunity to take public speech classes with the lady. She has been in the communication area for more than 20 years, so getting classes from her, getting her tips, observing how she talks and the rules of this area really got me hooked. That helped me get ready for my future show or shows that I will be hosting.

For my interest to Communication, I went to Columbia College. I decided to attend this school because I am a City girl. I was born in Chicago and raised there too. Knowing I wanted to stay in the city, a city I know and an engaging place. I knew Columbia would be a better fit for me than my other school options. A challenge I had right away was public transportation. My mom would take me to where I needed to be, so I didn’t take public transportation that often. Going to Columbia and growing up I had to stop relying on my mom and become independent. Having a car in downtown is really expensive so taking public transportation was way cheaper. I had to learn the north and southbound, where color lines take me and what buses drops me off closest to my school. At school I collaborated with so many people. Students, teachers and people outside of school. Without knowing it I was building my network. I was exposed to so many ideas, places and people that made me be more creative, innovative and more open minded. My mom says “ dedication, patients,studios, perseverance and technology” are my strengths. I focused on my strengths and rely on them to keep going. Another thing that help me in this journey is having a friend from elementary school going into communications too. With her I hosted my radio internet show and when we struggled we would help each other out. During college I had many breakdowns and was really stressed out. I would have many project and I would have many overlapping events. I would get bad headaches and not that much sleep. I was like this for a while and unfortunately let many people down. When I recovered I promised myself that I wouldn’t get more than I can chew. I didn’t say yes to every opportunity and scheduled everything so no overlapping would happen and that I won’t let anyone down.

After College I had some job offers. It looked like my network effort worked a little. Somewhere more interesting than others. I started working for a radio station, it was good, not so stressful, I had my time slot for my show and I stayed there for 3 years. I decided to leave the radio station because it wasn’t making me happy anymore. I then went on a job hunt and didn’t find anything that I thought I can do for more than 3 years and that gave me good salary. I had no job for a little while and I was starting to get worried. Then a friend of mine from college called me and asked if I was interested in working on television in California because they are looking for a qualified person. I got so excited and immediately said yes. After the call ended I then realized that I will be living Chicago, my home, my family and my friends. I thought about calling back and change my mind, but then I need the job and it was precisely what I was looking for. Although I didn’t want to I had to leave Chicago to continue my career. It was really sad, but my family understand that I needed to go.

In California things were obviously different. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I met up with my friend and gave me a tour of the city and television place. The next day I went straight to work. I was hosting an entertainment show. I talked about what going on in artist lives, fashion and events. It was all good and I was happy. A lot of research was required especially when the show expanded. Everything was going good and the show had 3 successful years. Until a girl who came from another television chain started talking about me to the director, producers and then moved on to the tabloids. She was ruining my career and my hard work. I didn’t know she was doing that until months later when I didn’t have trust from the people I work with. I then realized that she did that to get me kicked out and for her to have my spot since the show was at it’s top at that time. I was so mad at her and at the people who I worked for years to believe that. I kept working for couple weeks until I couldn’t work anymore because it was destroying me and I wasn’t happy anymore. Without hesitation I quit before getting fired. I wasn’t think straight because once again I didn’t have a job. It was really hard to find a job again because of the damage the girl did and I was right, when I left she immediately took my spot.

Without a job I was living off my saving and many time I thought about going home and giving up., but I didn’t want to come home a failure so I stayed. Months passed and I still didn’t have a job, but the good thing was that whatever the girl said was blowing off. I also went to some interviews to talk about the rumors, how I dealt with it and hoped that speed up availabilities of jobs for me. It did and I applied to be a host for a music entertainment show. Something different from my last job, but it was something I was really interested. Showing the good things i've done on my resume, I got the job a week later. Once I got there I saw so many artist there. I was shocked and amazed. I met the producer and told me what I the topic is. I tried to stay as professional as I could and I interviewed some artist. Thanks to that show I am very happy, I am friends with many artist and I have a stable job. This year I make 7 years in this program and I have hosted the at the emmy’s and I have gotten 2 of them. This industry has it’s ups and downs, but I am glad to have a strong relationship with the other workers and I have inspiring friends.