New Years Resolutions for 2024

Well 2023 is nearly over and 2024 is nearly upon us. I've gained a lot of new experiences, achieved some goals and made some new friends this year. With the New Year, resolutions are always at the forefront of our minds. We always plan to achieve some goals, whether they be professionally, academically or just small things to strive for. By the end of the year, most of us may have accomplished a few, may have forgotten about a few or just thrown out the list altogether. Here are some of my New Year Resolutions:

• Publish My Solo Book

If you've continued to read my blog for the past few years, I have shared a few tidbits of me writing my solo book. I am still writing this book but its nearly finished. I hope to publish it in 2024 and you'll be the first to know of a release date or a preorder date. The process has been very long and I've been working very hard to get it into your hands.

• Goodreads

I have been noticing a few of my favourite people to watch on social media, mainly BookTubers, have been participating in the Goodreads Wrapped, which is basically Spotify Wrapped but for Goodreads. I do have a Goodreads account but I never really updated it. I essentially only have a list of books I want to read that is not organised and consists of mostly Tiktok recs. Next year, I want to actually utilize Goodreads and maybe even review a few books on there, we'll see how we go :)

• Senior Year

I'm heading into my first year of senior year which means I'm in the big leagues now. What I do academically this year truly will have an impact on my future. All along, I have just been studying the night before and I want to try and start studying a few weeks before to better prepare me. I do say this every year so we'll see if I actually stick to this or not. 

• Start Writing More

I want to start using the tools I have around me and start developing more stories. This blog has been a very fun, recreational activity but I want to try and write some more although that may be hard when I'm balancing senior year as well.

• Stop Caring About My Reputation

As any teenage girl living in this modern society, our reputation holds a very important part of our lives. Who we are seen with, who we associate with and especially what we seem to be to other people. Everyone has a very different version of themselves they present to certain people and while that will never go away - intertwined into our very core as a human being - I suppose I want to stop caring what other people think of me so much. A lot of people dropped out this year, leaving us with a smaller group of students. Most of which I will never see again. This is definitely the year to start trying.

• DRIVE

This isn't so much of a resolution but a goddamn fact. I am the youngest out of all my friends (yes, ALL of my friends) so they all have their license and I can't even legally take the test to get mine. The element of surprise is also ruined because I am so desperate to have it that they would all expect me to get it as soon as my birthday is over. Some of my friends have had birthdays passed and they haven't taken the test so fingers crossed, there is a 1% that I may get it before them. 

This is literally all I have for my New Years Resolution. I always only do a few anyways so I don't feel like I'm restricted because I HAVE to accomplish these. Maybe that's what should be on my New Years Resolutions next year. Have more resolutions...

Work Experience at ABC Radio

The following week, I did work experience at my local ABC radio. ABC is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and is the national, local and emergency broadcaster. It is funded by the Government and provides radio, television, online and mobile services everywhere and at any time. 

I experienced the high intensity rush of the mornings, when they produce their on air breakfast show. It's a very crazy time, where they have to screen calls, make sure everything is running on time while preparing for tomorrow's show as well. They have a smaller office than many of the other local radio shows which meant that most of them left earlier because they had taken the early shift for the show. Having less people also meant that those who had a job there had to have a wider variety of skills and be able to not just present, but to source local news as well. I also learned that a lot of their news stories were sourced from local residents who called or texted them. 

I was taught how to use their systems, such as Radio Assist 8 (NETIA Software) which is what they operate with when they chop up and stitch their audio. All their audio files, from anywhere in Australia are located on this system and I had some fun, stitching together some news files and some music files! I also came with one of their reporters to two events, a small press conference where I had to wear the construction uniform and a walk against violence. I captured photographs of both events and I learned a lot, such as how to perform during a fast paced circumstance. This wasn't quite as long a journey as it was to the city of Sydney because it was my local radio and I could catch the train on my own. 

My supervisor, Caroline left some very pleasant words for me on my post work experience report:

"She takes direction well and has shown a great ability to learn new skills quickly."

Caroline Perryman

Content Maker/Producer

On my last day, I was asked to give a short interview live on ABC Breakfast with their radio presenter where we spoke about my writing, hobbies, personal life and other stuff. Thank you for having me and I really enjoyed my time!

Work Experience at TV Week Magazine

I did a week of work experience at Are Media, specifically TV Week Magazine. Are Media is Australia's leading content company with 27 media brands, 5.9 million readers a month and has been a provider of truth for Australian women. TV Week is one of the many media brands they own and focuses on TV information, with the biggest television guide and star interviews. It was launched in 1957 and is an Australian icon in the world of publishing.  

I met some of the nicest people during my short stint and I learnt a lot of things about the industry, like copyediting and interviewing people. I arrived as they were all rushing to finish up three editions of magazines before their holiday break so it was very busy but they all took the time to ask me about my day and we all had some conversations, opening up about our personal lives. I listened in on an interview and it was quite interesting for me to see how you interview people over a phone call, especially when you can't distinguish body language. I also got to hold some copies of magazines that hadn't been released yet (if you want to buy the latest copy of TV Week magazine, you can find it at Coles, Woolworths or any newsagent). 

I had a very early start getting to the city of Sydney everyday, a two hour journey from my house to Are Media but it was a very rewarding and fulfilling experience and I would do it again if I could. There was a Starbucks coincidentally right across the street and it was all really busy, with people rushing to work. I also met a friend who was also doing work experience (hi Emily!) and we would get lunch and walk to the train station in the afternoons.  

At the end of the week, my supervisor, Stephen had to fill out a post-work experience report and left some very kind words for me.

"She has great writing skills and I encourage her to keep working"

Stephen Downie
Editor - TV Week

I learnt a lot doing work experience and they are a very sweet bunch of people! Thank you so much for having me Stephen, Lucy and Simon.