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.

Flashbacks

Between exams and figuring out my work experience (more updates on that...), I have been quite busy so here is another story I wrote a year ago that I have let see the light of day:

First grade, Lexie Williams stole my seat. Second grade, she beat me in a colouring competition. Third grade, her star was placed higher than mine. Fourth grade, she got first taste of the ice cream even though I raised my hand first. Fifth grade, her whole family got uprooted and moved across the country. I never had to see her face again until ninth grade, when her family moved back. I hated seeing her face everywhere I went. Tenth grade, she got top of the year while I came second. To her. Eleventh grade, she chose the same classes as me and I’m still convinced it was purely to make my life hell. Thankfully, I got top of the year. Senior year was basically a competition on who would get the better university. But, shocker, we both got into Yale. University was too big a place for us to be each other’s only competitors. So I haven’t seen Lexie Williams in a long time. But yet here she is, sitting opposite my boss. 

“Miss Cooper. Come in,” my boss, Rachel motions for me to take a seat next to the devil. 

“What's going on?” I ask, staring back and forth between the two. 

“We have an exciting new story for you. Sage Brown is currently in New York, filming his latest travel segment and we want to send an investigative journalist to scope him out,” she explains. 

My heart leaps a little. I’ve been dying to write a news piece of this calibre since I first started at RW Company. But the joy is dimmed a little when I realise I have to write it on Sage Brown. 

“Then what's she doing here?” I glance at Lexie, who doesn’t look at all shocked. 

“We agreed to print the story in our newspaper and the Brettson’s and naturally, they sent someone to oversee the writing,” Rachel hesitates. “You two will have to cowrite the piece,”

“No way,” I fold my arms. As much as I hate to admit it, Sage Brown is one of the hottest new names that everyone knows about. This story could be the one that could make me a household name and I’m not stupid enough to do it with Lexie Williams, who would take all my credit. 

“We specifically wanted you because of your style of writing. It's incredibly similar to Lexie’s which is why we think you two would be a good fit,” Rachel says.

I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. “The answer’s no,”

“It could be one of the biggest stories you’ve ever written and you know it. Are you really gonna pass on that?” Lexie speaks up. 

“What's going to stop you from taking my credit?” it comes out of my mouth before I’m able to stop it. 

“Nothing,” Lexie says simply. “I just won’t,”

“And I’m meant to believe your word? Answers still no,” I shake my head.

“You’ll get an all expenses paid trip from London to New York, a platinum card from Mr Brown himself to use on any of your expenses, professional or personal and your names will both be in print. Emphasise on the both,” Rachel says.

“An all expenses paid trip?” I ask. That had to be taken into consideration. It had been a long time since I had flown to New York because the plane tickets cost me twice my rent. 

Rachel nods. “If you can’t make a decision now that's fine but you need to make one by the end of the week,”

“I can do that,” I nod.

“Good. You two are both dismissed,” 

The second Rachel’s door closes, Lexie hisses to me, “Seriously? This could be the story of our lives for both of us and you’re really going to think about it?”

I quicken my stride but Lexie manages to keep up with me. “I’ve had my experiences where my work has been stolen because I agreed to deals like that. Forgive me if I wanted time to consider it,” 

“For the last time, I didn’t steal your maths test and cheat off it,” I can just hear her rolling her eyes. 

“I’m not talking about that,” I snap. “But you so did,” I murmur.

“Well then what can I do to convince you to take this job?” Lexie says, exasperated.

“Why do you need it so badly?” I turn around. 

She gave me a look like I was so dumb, “Money, for one thing and revenge,”

I raise my eyebrow, “Revenge?”

“Yeah,” Lexie turns away. “Don’t bother asking,”

I shrug, “Okay,”