I’m far too excited about this site to put off updating the blog while I’m still taking exams. That’s crazy talk and total wishful thinking.

Here’s more of an introduction:

I love the sociological/psychological implications behind how you introduce yourself to people. You can find out a lot about someone by how they identify themselves beyond their name. It really signifies what’s important in their life- whether it’s their religion, ethnicity, political leanings, sexual orientation, educational status, or career.

Currently I’m at a crossroads of identity- I feel inclined to identify myself as a junior at George Mason University because that’s what people want to hear from a 20-year-old chick in college. “They” want to know what my major is (History), if I like my classes (for the most part), and why I decided to go to my college (A mix of reasons that’s probably for another post). Sometimes “they” will ask what activities I’m involved in (I’m a peer minister for Lutheran Campus Ministry, I do stuff with Student Media, and I sometimes play harp for groups in the music department) or if I follow the basketball team at all (no). But in general, it’s assumed that at this point in my life, my primary identity is based on my education and not on something else.

Funny thing though- if I didn’t feel obliged to identify myself as a student, I would probably always introduce myself as a journalist or a reporter. That’s how I think of myself. Even though I’m “just a kid” still, I believe my years in the field have actually changed the way I look at the world for good, and affect nearly all I do.

So when I walk up to you, even though I might say I’m a student or whatever, know that I now and always will consider myself a journalist. I don’t feel the need to prove that status to anyone, but if you really feel the need to check me out, I do have a resume posted up somewhere online you can certainly look up.

Anyways, I love everything about my job (I use the term loosely, as I’ve worked for various companies and groups, but I identify myself as a journalist, not a company’s employee, if that makes any sense.) I love interviewing people- getting in their heads and figuring out what makes them tick; the rush of chasing down a story- following leads, trying to get exclusive coverage, etc.; the excitement of coming up with unique story ideas and approaches, and the writing process most of all! And lately, I’ve really gotten into the side elements which flesh a story out- the videos and the photos that make it all happen.

This post makes me sound obsessed, right? I’m not ashamed. Journalism is my passion- I firmly believe in the power the media has to change lives. And as the world changes, the media has to change with it sometimes.

I’ve blogged on and off for years, but it’s always just been a purely personal thing- in high school, a good way to get out steam before I figured out airing your emotions online is usually a bad idea. In college, it’s been more of a place for me to muse about various things that interest me.

Four Point Report is my attempt to blog with the big kids. I’m out of the sandbox now and onto the swings, baby. I freaking love my job and I plan to blog all about my experiences in the news industry from now on, everywhere I go. It’s starting up now for a number of reasons- I just came up with the name a few months ago and I’m leaving to study abroad in London for four months in January so it seemed a good time.

There’s no cutoff date on this. It’s going to be the baby (aka leech) I nurture, raise and give time to forever. Or until blogs are replaced with floating holograms a la Wil.i.am on CNN Election night. -shudder- I dread the day that happens- those holograms were freakier than Anderson Cooper’s eyebrows.

I wonder- in the website-baby metaphor, what would the diapers be? The trash file? Spam box? Hm.