Fueling my passion and feeling fulfilled by the small moments

Hello world! Welcome to my first blog post, sorry it took me so long. Although I am not in Prague and traveling around the world like my lovely sister, I have had an amazing time in Chapel Hill this semester. I have been learning the value of small, everyday moments and how discovering your passion is extremely fulfilling. 

As a reminder, I am a journalism major. This semester I am taking a class called “Public Affairs Reporting” which requires me to report on a business in Chapel Hill once a week. Although the class is a lot of work, it has been so rewarding to be reporting and learning more about what I want to do with my future. It has been extremely fulfilling and reassuring to me because every day I am reminded that this is what I want to do out of college, and it excites me! We had a guest speaker who was reminiscing about his life as a young journalist and waking up each day never knowing what was going to happen, and I love the unpredictability and the thrill of the job. I could genuinely tell how passionate he was about the field, and it was another reminder of how awesome journalism is and how I cannot wait to start my career. This semester has shown me what college is really about.

The class has forced me to go outside of my comfort zone and figure out how to be a journalist in the real world, and I am becoming more comfortable and confident with my skills each day. I have been able to meet so many people and learn so much about the community, and I feel extremely connected to Chapel Hill. There have been several instances where I walked out of an interview with tears in my eyes, feeling so full and so whole, where my faith in humanity was restored. I have interviewed a non-profit that helps women (Designed for Joy), the owner of Mediterranean Deli and learned about his journey rebuilding his restaurant after a tragic fire, and other businesses in the area. It has been such an awesome learning experience and I am so grateful that I can learn so much by simply conquering the real world. 

I am also taking a photojournalism class. I used to be big into photography but lost track of the hobby a few years ago. Now I am back in full swing, but this time I am being forced to take pictures of strangers and interview them for my class. I have had to go up to random people, ask to take their pictures and learn about who they are and what they are doing. It has been so much fun because I am meeting all kinds of people who I would have never encountered in the first place if it wasn’t for this class. So far I have interviewed mostly students and a professor who has been teaching for 20 years. I am going to put my favorite portraits I have taken so far here.

These classes have confirmed that journalism is truly the perfect career for me because each day is different and I am meeting so many interesting people while learning so much. I challenge whoever is reading this to take the time to meet new people and be genuinely interested in who they are because we can learn so much from the things we do not know! I used to need extravagant experiences and activities to feel satisfied, but right now I am feeling content and at peace with each day. 

This semester and these classes have shown me how important it is to do something you love. These classes have not felt like work or a chore because I truly am soaking up everything I am doing and enjoying every second. It has been so easy to enjoy the small insignificant moments because I have a purpose and a desire to contribute to the world. If you have not found this passion yet then keep exploring and keep trying new things. It is only the rest of your life, so take this time to learn about who you are and what ignites you before you miss your chance. 

This fulfillment has seeped into other aspects of my life, and I truly notice how it has affected my actions and my outlook. I am more observant, I am friendlier, and I am in awe of everything in front of me. I can tell how I have become more grateful for my life, for the people around me, and for what is ahead. I feel so connected to the universe and so free, and I have never felt so stable and tranquil in my entire life. There is so much love to be shared and so much to celebrate, and I feel like a sponge ready to soak up every moment.  

Ellie Kollme 2/22/2024