One decision made all the difference

Hi, my name is Jessica and I'm the 1998 West Va. High School Journalist of the Year. Yes, that is right, I have training to write. I apologize Mrs. McCune, the display of "writing" which I have resorted to here is not to your standard, my only excuse is that it has been 10 years.

Last night I watched the new series on MTV, "The Paper."

What? You think I'm too old to watch MTV? Well, you are surely entitled to your own opinions, but I disagree! MTV is what keeps me young. It's how I remember all those dreams I had as a young woman, those dreams I passed on to fulfill yet another dream, to be a mother and a wife.

The show last night brought about so many memories of my high school days as I watched this reality show follow the lives of a group of high school journalism students.

I suddenly became reminiscent of my time spent all those years ago. Numerous nights I spent working, along with my journalism colleagues, after school hours to put out our award winning newspaper.

We took pride in our work and I set forth with dreams of a career in journalism. Then reality took over.

My dad has a career in journalism and I saw how he worked long hours on night shifts. He loved his job and took pride in it and I was certain I would as well, but I also had bigger dreams.

At the ripe age of 17 I knew what I wanted for my life. I knew I wanted to be a mother. I knew that if I was going to be a mother I could not see myself as a career woman, at least not in the journalism career. And so my plans changed.

I attended a small Christian college, received a degree in social work, and accomplished my goal to be a mother.

However, last night as I watched "The Paper," the adrenaline of a deadline, the excitment of finishing a great news story, the sounds of the newsroom, the familiar Mac computers, all came back to me.

It made me think, "What if?" What if I never changed my mind? Where would my life be now?

All I know is that I am happy with my life. The adorable red headed 2 year old in the other room makes it all worthwhile.