Friday, May 27, 2011

Rookie learning the ropes

Besides brushing up on HTML and trying to figure out how to create a banner using my outdated freeware picture program, I've been thinking of a theme I should base my posts on so people will actually be inclined to read them. Unless Whiskey Tea Cafe (the story) becomes a hit in its own right, no one is going to give a flying f*** about this blog.


The problem is that my interests are so widely dispersed that I can't decide which one to focus on. Writing and short fiction are obviously the primary choices, but chronicling my aspired path to the New York Times bestselling list wouldn't be very fascinating reading material.

Journalism is the next choice, but there is a reason I decided to pursue a second bachelor's degree. Although I was a favorite of my journalism professors and my articles were regularly featured as class examples, I have to say that I was dreadfully bored with that type of writing. Journalism wasn't a bad experience at all, and my most distinguished interview was with Jordan Belfort, author of The Wolf of Wall Street, but I simply had no passion for writing in AP style and making the effort to contact people to request interviews.


I'm an introvert, you see, and a lot of my interviews lapsed into awkward silences, feeding my fear that I failed as a journalist and a human being for not knowing how to be socially competent around others.

Me: So, can you tell me any interesting facts about your newly opened organic foods store?

Store Manager: Yes, everything we sell is locally grown. We offer only the healthiest products in the panhandle area and we have bags of complimentary boiled peanuts for our customers to enjoy as they look around the store.

Me: That is certainly unique. How busy does it get on a typical weekday?

Store Manager: Well, it varies from day to day, but we've had the store packed with people several days a week.

Me: Although you just recently opened, how is business thus far?

Store Manager: Oh, it's been great. We don't really have any competition close by, so I think we'll be doing very well.

Me: I see.

*Cue awkward silence

Me (scrambling for the next question): Have restaurant staff members expressed interest in purchasing their ingredients here? (FAIL...should avoid close-ended questions because they cut off conversation.)

Store Manager: Why, yes. We've had many restaurants contact us for deals on bulk prices and all.

Me: Ah, okay.

*More awkward silence

Me (now flustered and not thinking): Are there any interesting facts about your store that you'd like to share?

Store Manager: You already asked that question.

Me: Oh, right...


And it just goes downhill from there. Once the interview is over and I can return to whatever office I'm interning at in shame, I end up writing a pretty damn good article and my supervisor doesn't suspect a thing about my rocky conversation.

So that's why I went back to undergraduate school; 1) to hide from the recession for another year, and 2) to exploit my remaining status as a dependent under my U.S. Army retired father and continue being a parasite to his health insurance plan (plus access to undergrad scholarships). Oh, and to pursue my interest in psychology since the interview aspect of journalism was chipping away at my self-esteem.

And that brings me back to the original topic. I could focus on psychology as a theme for this blog, but it's a very diverse field with numerous specialties that only go over the bare basics in undergraduate school. So while I may not focus on it, some posts may discuss the nature of human behavior (psychology's not all about the crazies, you know).


Well, I really should give this more thought. Also, my coffee is ready.

-J. S. Blancarte

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cool! Do you plan on going for a PhD or just your Masters?
-Liz

J. S. said...

Hey Liz! I'm going for my master's next year in mental health counseling (hopefully), then later down the road I would like my PhD in neuropsychology. If none of that goes through, I'll just have to be a bestselling author ;)