Blogs

When I was a senior in high school, I went to a college's admitted business student event that offered an opportunity to interview for additional scholarship money. I didn't have a lot of experience with interviewing and didn't do a lot of preparation, but I wanted to visit the school again, try my best in the interview portion, and see what would happen. During the interview, one of my interviewers asked me if money wasn't an object, what would I like to do as my dream job.

Now, since then I have learned that the "correct" answer to this question is to talk about working in the field you're interviewing for to illustrate your interests align with the position, or in my case, area of study. But I answered I would like to write a book. I didn't get the scholarship, maybe because from my answer you would think I was pursuing the wrong major if I wanted to be an author.

Though I have always enjoyed writing, I chose to study marketing because I enjoy being creative. I decided to minor in communication to incorporate my interest in public relations and some writing. This semester, being in two writing classes, I have started thinking about it being a real part of my career in the future. The Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop seemed like a perfect opportunity to learn about how I can do that.

Before this, other than seeing Erma Bombeck's name around campus, I didn't know much about her. Reading through her quotes and about her life, I appreciate her determination and her humor. I respect that her legacy lasts through the conference and her stories, and I agree with her approach to laugh about the "absurdities" of life.

I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the conference, and have already experienced the excitement and community the conference members have toward one another from being a part of the Facebook group. Going to sessions such as Welcome to the Writers' Room and How to Uncover Your Own Voice will help me improve my writing and discover how I can forge a path working in marketing and writing.

I love great stories, consuming news through Saturday Night Live sketches, and keeping up to date with pop culture. The chance to create copy for advertisements or work in the entertainment industry in the future excites me. Erma Bombeck aimed to use her writing talent to its full potential throughout her life and I would like to learn how I can do the same in combination with marketing.

-Michelle O'Dowd

Michelle O'Dowd is a junior marketing major and communication minor from the suburbs of Chicago. She has always enjoyed writing and is grateful and excited to be attending the Workshop to learn how she can incorporate it into her career. Whatever Michelle does in the future, she hopes she can laugh about the absurdities of life like Erma Bombeck and follow her example of determination.