Following The Dream

Since I finally settled on a title for this blog almost two months ago, I suppose it's about time I explain myself.

Following the dream: chronicling my adventures as I make my through college and pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a sportscaster.  Not too complicated, but a very different view on life than my first three semesters at GW.

When I got to GW, I didn't know what I wanted to study.  In an attempt to figure out what I did want to study, I took a wide variety of classes in my first semester: Calculus, Chemistry, Hebrew, and the Old Testament.

Instead of spending my second semester branching out further and figuring out which fields of study stimulated my interest, I continued on with Chemistry and Hebrew. I decided at some point during that Spring semester that I would declare my Chemistry major with a Biochemistry concentration, and I couldn't have been happier.

"What would I do with that major?" seemed to be the only question people were capable of asking me upon learning of my decision.  I had no response.  I didn't (and still don't) want to go to medical school, and I really had no idea where a Chemistry major would lead me.  Grad school?  Only time would tell...

In any case, I came back to GW psyched for the Fall 2009 semester.  I was to take Organic Chemistry, which I thought would be really interesting, Genetics, Anthropology, and more Hebrew.  As it turned out, being president of a student organization takes up way more time than I ever imagined it would, and it didn't help that, after planning High Holiday services, I was no longer so enthusiastic about the organization.  I also did not fare well in Organic Chemistry.  I was not nearly as interested in the material as I thought I would be, and this lack of interest led directly to a lack of motivation.  I returned home after the semester frustrated and confused.

With a little help from my lovely older sister, I decided not to take the second semester of Organic Chemistry and see what else GW had to offer.  She also helped me allow myself to have a dream and to pursue it.  My entire time at GW, I was taking courses I thought I wanted to take.  I never sat down and thought about what I wanted to do in life and how that dream might impact my studies.

Everybody always tells us to pursue our dreams and see where that takes us.  My favorite quotation along those lines: "Shoot for the stars.  You may not reach the stars, but you may get the moon."  I can't say why I didn't allow myself to dream the way I do now, but, boy, does it feel good.

I realized during this memorable conversation with my sister that I have always wanted to be a sports caster.  I love sports, and I enjoy talking about them.  I love the thought of having such a close connection with a team and building a bridge between the team and the fans.  With this new life view in mind, I figured I might as well start taking journalism classes and learn about the field.

Enter the Spring 2010 semester.  No more Organic Chemistry.  No more Organic Chemistry Lab, also known as the bane of my existence.  Replace those with Introduction to News Writing and Reporting, Psychology, Music Theory, and even more Hebrew.  I could not have been happier academically.  I was taking all classes I found stimulating, and I felt that I was laying the groundwork for my career in broadcast journalism.  I even decided at one point last semester that I was going to graduate from GW and go to graduate school in broadcast journalism to pursue my dream of becoming a sports caster.

However, after some words of wisdom at the end of the semester from my journalism professor, I decided that journalism school might not be the best route after all.  Whether or not I have a journalism degree, I will always be able to write or find another way into the broadcast world.  I also realized that, more than anything, I want to work in the sports world.  Whether in sports marketing, advertising, or journalism, I want my job to have a direct connection to a professional sports team.

So, given that I am currently a junior, I don't have time to start over academically (assuming I want to graduate in 2012, which I do).  I realize that I have other options, namely taking an extra year, but for many reasons, I just don't want to stay at GW more than four years.  That all in mind, my choice of a major should be relatively obvious.  There is only one course that I have taken every semester at GW: Hebrew.  And while GW doesn't have a Hebrew major (yet, anyway), GW has a very well-renowned Judaic Studies department.

I've always held this stigma about Judaic Studies majors: cop-outs who don't actually study interesting topics. I have no idea why, but the History of Modern Israel course I am taking has definitely convinced me otherwise.  I am realizing that I love studying Hebrew and learning about Jewish history.  While I may not want to pursue a career path directly related Judaic Studies, I am definitely enjoying it as a student, and I'm still thinking of different ways to get into the sports world.

I currently work at City Segway Tours, and that on top of classes takes up plenty of my time, but maybe next summer, depending on where I choose to be, I can look for a job or internship with a sports team somewhere.

So that, my friends, is Sam's version of Following the Dream.

Peace, love, and happiness,

Sam