One Year

Hello everyone,

It's been quite a while since I blogged! I've had such a hectic few months and have only just been able to settle into holiday mode (yes I am FINALLY on holidays! Wooooo!)

These past few months have been filled with assignments, assignments and more assignments. Oh and work! I ended up working throughout the 6 week radio survey period and had a blast doing it! The party afterwards was pretty cool also ;).

I then ended up being caught up in a gazillion assignments! Like they actually felt like they were never going to end haha. And then I fell behind due to having to go spend time with a sick relative. But I came back two weeks before the semester finished and knocked out 5 assignments and 3 radio shows in a week. Boom!

Anyways, its been a YEAR! Yes, a year, since I was The Edge apprentice. I can't believe how much has changed since I was the one trying to prove myself to get the job. I did the internship and met so many people and now I've been employed for 8 months and still am completely in love with my job.

My job is constantly exciting. I love meeting people, driving, talking, music and all of that thrown into a job is pretty epic. I wouldn't trade this job for anything... unless I were offered a few million dollars and a rich husband ;). Kidding! I'd still work in a job like this no matter what ha ha.

There's so much to say but there's so much to think about so I'll leave it here until I think of all.



Until next time,

Katie the Radio Girl x

Confidence, Passion, Determination

It's been a long time since I updated this blog.

I'm not one to generally vent things in public but I figured that in doing this, I could help someone who is in a similar situation as I am.

A few weeks ago I went to my first survey party. (Survey is basically 6 weeks of full-time work where all the stations compete to find out whose the best in each region). It was an amazing party and an experience to remember.

One of my workmates who I had met when I first ever started coming up to Mediaworks was chatting to me and asked "Are you confident?". In my mind I was wondering what he was talking about. I'm not a generally confident person. I can be when I know I am but when people judge me in any way, shape or form it kills my confidence. Anyway, he continued to say that the reason why he asked me if I were confident is because  I had become very confident since the first few times I ever came up and it had reflected not just on my work but also on myself.

I've always been passionate about radio. I wanted to be a flight attendant but I didn't make the height requirements for it. When I was 13 I had 4 options for a career... flight attending, midwifery, record producing or radio broadcasting. I chose radio broadcasting because after my Mum died in a car accident, I realised that it was a career I had always talked about with her, and we used to spend every day driving to school and work listening to the radio and spending that time together. She enjoyed listening to them and so did I. I really badly wanted her to be able to drive to work one day and hear me on the radio and tell the whole world that it was me and she was my Mum. I never got that opportunity but it doesn't mean that I don't believe she is watching over me right now. I got my learners license in the mail a week after she died and although scared to drive after her death, I was excited to be able to have my own car and drive around listening to the radio, which I did.

I don't consider myself a talented person. I think I'm far from talented in any area. But it doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed to do something just because I'm not good at it. I like to sing, I'm not good at it. I like to play soccer, I'm not good at it. I like to play music. I am not good at it. But I will never let anyone tell me I can't do it or put me down by saying that if I'm not good at something I should give up. Yes, some people are better than others at things. But nothings impossible and with hard work and practice you can become good at what you do.

Its passion and determination that make me want to do radio. I am in no way talented in regards to radio. I don't have a face for radio nor am I skinny, tall or "model looking". Looks is a majority of what radio is about and I don't have them. But I really don't care. I am who I am, I like radio, I'm determined not to be taunted into looking the right away and I should never be discriminated because I don't look a certain way. Its my work ethic that people should look for, not my appearance. I am not incompetent in regards to being short or "frumpy". I am a healthy person and shouldn't be stopped from doing anything because you are different to me.

I hope that the people out there who are discriminated against in similar ways like me are able to stand up for themselves and prove that if they have determination, passion and overall excited about something then the rest shouldn't matter.

Love who you are and strive for the life you deserve.

Katie the Radio Girl x

Inspiration

Ugh! I have not had the time to update my blog! SORRY :D. There's so much to be done in such little time!

I got some pretty decent marks last semester... 3 B's and an A. I'm not failing which is the main thing ;)

One of the practice shots from M.V.P.

Its already week three of second year, second semester classes. It's already getting pretty intense. I'm taking five classes instead of the standard four - Web Media (learning about online media), Media - Video - Photography (learning photography and filming), Digital Publishing (learning how to create publications), Media Communication (learning how to communicate in media) and Broadcast Presentation (television and radio broadcasting). :-). If you've already guessed.. I'm so excited to do Broadcast Presentation! Media - Video - Photography is pretty cool too! We get to learn how to take photographs to help us when writing journalism stories as well as create a documentary for TV. I'm clearly not a photographer unless selfies are counted so I'm pretty excited to be able to do something out of my element. But its totally nerve-wrecking at the same time.

My tutor Debbie (who inspired me to create this blog) described last week that a blog is kind of like an online CV. Some employees tend to Google people these days and I'm hoping that all of this shows up under my name if someone tries to Google me.

Having fun at LEAP

I've been working like crazy lately! I worked quite a bit over the mid-semester break! I worked during the school holidays helping out with a sausage sizzle at the new indoor trampoline park LEAP... that place is epic as! I had just as much fun there as the kids haha. I also helped hand out free lollies to kids (and their nostalgic parents) at The Base, as well as working a night during re-O-week... was tiring as but totally worth it!


I can't believe that I've been doing radio for two and a half years now. https://soundcloud.com/theyakfm (Some of my radio classes work from 2012). I never saw myself as someone who wanted a career. But I found something I loved and two and a half years later I'm halfway through my Communications degree as well as having a radio cert and media arts cert under my belt and am employed in the job I worked hard for :).

Throwback... some of my classmates and my tutor Blair
back on the radio cert in 2012

My workmate Erin and I working at re-O-week :)

I always considered a career in broadcasting as well as being a flight attendant. I didn't make the height requirements for flight attending so I settled for radio. Growing up, my parents always played the radio in the car. My Mum always listened to The Breeze Waikato in the car when she used to drop me off at school (mainly because it was the only station that we could get in the car) and listening to the announcers everyday inspired me to do it. My Mum died in a car accident 5 years ago on her way home from work. We had been listening to the radio in the morning the last time I ever saw her. I had gotten my licence a week earlier and the moment I got my own car and was able to listen to the radio again, it was the moment I knew I wanted to go for it.


I'm not the sort of person who would be classed as having a "face for radio", nor did I originally have any form of talent in terms of speaking on the radio. But I wanted to do it and all of the things I have done have worked towards turning me into the person I am today and it has paid off. I still have a long way to go in order to get where I want to be. But I am excited for the things I have done, the things I might do and the things I will do.

Until next time,

Katie the Radio Girl x

Half Way There!

18 months down, 18 months to go!

I am officially half way through my degree! It actually feels like it's going so fast! It always seems slow when there are so many assignments to get done! But now, it actually hit me that there isn't much time left until I graduate from Wintec and venture out to build the career and life I've been aiming for. Crazy!

My 20th Birthday Party Rules! :) Thanks to my flattie!

I know I said I would blog more... but I turned 20 and then got slammed with heaps of assignments. 

The other week alone I had to do two tests, a presentation, hand in two workbooks, 15 annotated bibliographies, a critique and a 3000 word essay - where we had to analyse an entire newspaper (I also went over the word count by 700 words! ha ha) I know... excuses, excuses! But if that wasn't a good excuse to not blog for a while then I don't know what is. Oh and I got 95% on a random test. I don't care if it wasn't a major assignment, I'm still claiming that mark haha. 

My 95% mark... on Instagram of course!

3500 Word Essay... That thing took a while to write!

This whole semester I had a major assignment for a class called AMC (Audience, Message, Context). We had to create an Advertising Campaign imagining the future. My group created a campaign for our future company Healthy Food Innovations. Our idea was to take all fast food companies and turn their food healthy. Keeping it the same but removing fat, processed ingredients and making everything good for you! I loved our idea so much. Wish it was real! My main task was to create radio commercials and this was our final product.:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvoVqNtlSXA

https://www.facebook.com/healthyfoodinnovations?ref_type=bookmark

Chilling at the Hamilton Airport with Diana and Piripi! Waiting for
the ALL BLACKS!

Work has been great! I've been getting more involved and am currently doing a More FM promo - going around to primary aged sports games every Saturday, cheering the kids on, giving them breakfast packs and taking photos! Its weird having parents call me the "More FM lady" haha.




Last week I also went to the Hamilton Airport and helped greet the All Blacks! It was awesome! All them rugby players are babes! ;) Ha ha! But seriously! I know countries have their own support systems for their sports teams and I've never been overseas to experience another sports atmosphere, but I can say that the support for the All Blacks in New Zealand is crazy awesome! Definitely a cool environment to be around.

Teaching radio in The Yak FM at WINTEC

I also ended up teaching a class of 15 Dio Year 11 students. It was so much fun! Being able to show others the skills that I've spent learning over the past few years. Every single girl I taught gave radio a go, no matter how shy they were and I even managed to get them to crack a few jokes on air. I've never had someone thank me for teaching them something (even their teacher thanked me!) haha. Its sounds so cheesy! But it was cool.

I'm on a 5 week holiday right now! My main goal to get done before the end of this year - I want to go to Auckland and do volunteer work for a charity called Radio Lollipop. Radio Lollipop is set up in hospitals all around the world and allows sick children the experience of going on the radio and doing all sorts of that type of stuff. I'm currently waiting on info from them, but it would be such a cool experience to help children out and do radio at the same time. Anything to brighten up their day :).

Until next time...

Katie the Radio Girl x

Another Year Older

Hey Guys!

Okay I know I said I would blog every Wednesday... but I have been crazy busy trying to get my Audience, Message, Context project done. We have to create an advertising campaign imagining the future. My group and I have turned fast food healthy and I've been creating radio commercials for the campaign. Its pretty fun but very hectic! We also have to fill out a visual diary documenting everything we have done individually and as a group... So much printing! And cutting! And gluing! Ugh!

I also have a Consumer Behaviour assignment due in and I had a text last week in Media Theory. Now that it is getting towards the end of semester one, there is a whole heap of work to get done! But I am almost half way through my degree!! EEEEEEPPPPPP!

My photo wall :)

Not alot has happened since the last time I blogged. I've cooked a few sausages at work, celebrated my cousins 30th birthday, babysat, cuddled a newborn :) and put photos all over my bedroom wall and that's about it!

As I am writing this blog, I am counting down the hours till my birthday. In 3 hours it will be my 20th birthday! Its so weird to think that I am about to be 20. I feel old! Least I can claim that I am not 20 until 10:57pm tomorrow night! I don't care what people say, I still believe that you don't turn your next age until the exact time that you were born!

Cherelle and I during our BLACKOUT show days :)

This time two years ago I was doing the Certificate in Radio Broadcasting. I was about to turn 18 and I was SO excited! I was the youngest of my friends and had waited ages to be able to finally party with them, drink with them and buy a lotto ticket (which I didn't win!). The night before my birthday I was recording another one of my BLACKOUT shows (my first show on The Yak FM) with my pals Cherelle and Faith! I remember dancing in the station that night counting down the minutes until it would finally be my birthday! It was so much fun and we ended up making a youtube video that night! CHECK IT OUT! haha (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGJjrIoX8IQ)

This time last year I was in the hospital having ear drum reconstruction surgery. Was very high on medicine and all I remember is the pain! This year I'm partying! Making up for last year! haha.

Me with my 9 year old self! Taken exactly 10 years ago today!

It's crazy what you remember about your birthdays! My whole childhood I remember having slumber parties. We ALWAYS roasted marshmallows on our outside bbq, played a game called Hedgehogs, always played Singstar, watched movies, ate party food and had so much fun! Every slumber party was different though. My 7th birthday was Barbie themed. My 12th birthday we danced all night. and my 16th birthday we got up early the next day and drove to Rainbows End in Auckland. Was so much fun!

I now have 2 hours and 55 minutes until its my birthday. Being 20 seems so odd to me! I am entering another decade of my life. Am no longer a teenager. And to me it seems weird being 19 one day and 20 the next. Never being able to be 19 again! Its all wrinkles and grey hair from now! haha (Well I am hoping the wrinkles and grey hair stay away until I am 50!)

Every single day becomes a memory and this time next year I'll be about to celebrate my 21st birthday and will be thinking back to this moment, back to when I turned 20 and sat in my bedroom writing a blog! haha. But least I can look back on this post and remember what I was thinking about.

Now I have 2 hours and 47 minutes until my birthday... and I still need to do my Consumer Behaviour assignment before tomorrow.

So until next time...

Katie the Radio Girl x

Time flys when you're having fun!

Flower Power!

Hey Hey!

I think I need to update my blog more often! Once a month is a bit ridiculous! I literally posted a month ago to the day! Ooops!

After my last blog post many people asked me why exactly I have a blog, what it is about and what I am hoping to get from it. Well... the reason why I have a blog is because during the past year and a half, my public relations tutor Debbie kept saying she loved blogs and that she thought that all the students in our class should have a blog in order to communicate and practice our writing. She said that we should have a blog that involves things we love or are interested in... and Bingo! I created one and here it is. My blog is basically about myself and my journey through Wintec, my ambition in life to become apart of the radio broadcasting industry... whether that involves becoming an announcer or other areas of the industry and my blog includes bits and pieces of my friends and fellow students who are also working their way towards the careers and lives they desire and dream about! I am not hoping to get anything out of my blog... maybe just a few page views, and something that I can look back at and watch my progress towards life! I would love to be able to change someones life through my blog or inspire someone to do radio or study... but I think that is just wishful thinking. (If I do change your life, please tell me! :D)

I am making a goal over the next four weeks to blog every Wednesday. I am going to change it up a bit... But am unsure yet of what to talk about. (Any topics... throw them at me!) I am mainly doing this so that I can practice my writing and communication skills

Anyways...

Partying with Clint from The Edge, my mate Rick and flatmate Dasha

So much has happened, is happening and is about to happen and it's so crazy trying to suss everything out!

Last time I blogged I mentioned that I am now officially employed by MediaWorks Waikato (Eeeep! Still excited). Since then I have worked heaps, learnt heaps, met so many people, made myself look like a dork, made myself look like a legend and so much more!

Working at the Waikato Show with Ashleigh :)

I've done sausage sizzles (slowly becoming a pro), driven a car that is ten times too big for me (or else I am ten times too small for it), I had fun doing the lock box challenge at the Waikato Show, I've attempted to make candy floss (which is super hard! and super bad to eat... I now know why my parents never let me eat it as a child), I've watched several Peppa Pig shows and more! I honestly love my job! I think the best part about it is the fact that I am doing something I love and am super passionate about. It really is true when people say that working is fun and exciting if you're doing something that you love. :)

So much has happened at Wintec too! I wrote a 1500 word essay on radio shows and advertising... and got a pretty choice mark for it, a 1000 word report on gender roles and consumer behaviour, did a joint 15-minute presentation with my pal Nick (check out his fb page Theboysofmay) on Miley Cyrus and her involvement in agenda setting, and am now working on my AMC project, writing radio commercials and doing my never ending workbook...Such work! I wonder why degrees were invented?! It is actually a lot of work, time, money for just a piece of paper. Ha ha. I guess the other million students around the globe could potentially be wondering the same thing.

Kendalls birthday party :) Revenge of the Nerds!

So much has happened personally too... I was in a car crash literally in the middle of nowhere on the way to visit my family down in Wellington and was left stranded, alone, in Taihape (which is a long way from either of my homes) for over 3 hours. ( RIP my black car!... if anyone wants to sell me or even gift me their car, I'll love ya long time! :P

My cousin and best friend Josie... and my car crash scars... ha ha

I am slightly scared of being in cars at the moment and I have some good scars on my forehead and some nasty burn/grazes on my arms from the airbags but otherwise I'm sweet! Airbags hurt people!
I also partied with my workmates in a 1984 themed party (happy birthday again Kendall!), and I'm about to turn 20... ahhhhh! 10 years till I'm 30... eww! haha

Hopefully I'll be back next week (don't hold it against me if I forget :P)

Until next time...

Katie the Radio Girl! x

Procrastination at its BEST!

Wow! It has been a whole month since I last updated my blog. I never realized exactly how much can happen in a month but honestly I am one of the happiest people right now!

I am actually procrastinating finishing my last two assignments (can you believe its mid-semester already!)... but I have big news...


:D


My big news is..... I am officially employed at Mediaworks Waikato!!!! :) I signed my contract a couple of weeks ago and am now a part-time promotions team member! The feeling of accomplishment is more than I can describe right now!

Todd and Tyler... You guys are AMAZING!

I wouldn't be in this moment if it weren't for my boss/pal Todd and my pal Tyler! They saw how much I wanted this and was trying to prove myself and I'm guessing that is what got me here. If they read this... you guys are a.m.a.z.i.n.g! :D x

Haha I think I am one of only a few people that say that they LOVE their job. I've only worked properly a few times, but I love every moment of it all.  Radio is my passion. I love doing promotions and that is all that really matters to me.

The new Tiger Woods.

Notice the amount of pants left on the costume haha.

My first More FM promo... I helped out at the Junior Tiger Golf Tournament and ended up in a tiger suit... (I looked more like a tiger cub than an actual tiger ha ha) It was so much fun! (Even though I couldn't see a thing out of the head piece and it was 100 degrees in that suit too).

I then went on a "blind" date for the Nexus magazine! And I wrote an article about it for them... which ended up in the mag! Ha ha I'm not the greatest writer, I prefer to talk alot. but was cool either way :).

Nexus mag article :)

Two weeks ago, I ended up going to St Johns College in Hamilton and helping out with Shave for a Cure. Its such an amazing charity and it was fun watching all the guys get their heads shaved! (I even considered shaving a piece of my hair, DIDN'T happen though... Thank god! haha)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIY_nYqgC4M

The crowd at St Johns College! :)

I did my first bbq promo with The Edge as well  I got told I should be prepared to do quite a few of these! Keeeeeen! Haha I want to be a pro at the BBQ so I can cook one for my Dad one day. :D

Last weekend I did another bbq promo with The Rock... I actually manned the BBQ this time and drove The Rock FM ute for the first time... no one died! Meaning no one choked on a sausage, no one got food poisoning, no one got crashed into by my driving and no one killed me in the event that I did crash the car... okay maybe I wouldn't actually get killed but I think my dignity would die a bit if I crashed a work car the first time driving it haha.

BBQ and my perfect work vehicle parking haha

So much has happened and so much continues to happen and I am thankful everyday for this opportunity.

I'm still studying too! Just about to hit the holidays and I'm pretty excited! Second year is actually a lot harder than I realized. Its still easy for me but the work takes me extra time to figure out these days. I'm one of those people who need things to actually be explained to me or else I will be completely lost, which seems to be happening a bit lately. But oh well haha. Three and a half semesters till I can say I am qualified.... I'm counting down. But for now... bring on the holidays! (And my Dads cooking).

Okay I really am procrastinating now... If you know anything about Australasian society and lifestyle regarding consumer behaviour... then by all means, help me out! Haha.

Hopefully I wont leave blogging as long again. But its so hard finding the time these days. Not that I'm complaining haha. I actually love it! And Im sure no one really cares about reading these types of blogs but its pretty cool being able to write stuff like this and share it with people. Its also cool not having to write something in essay format with APA referencing and a cover page haha.

Me and my former Wintec radio co-host Liana!  If you need a make up artist or hair stylist... shes ya girl! :)

Until next time...

Katie the Radio Girl! x

So far so good

Hey everyone!

Sorry it has been quite a while since I last posted anything. I'm back at Wintec and everything is crazy hectic already! This is my third week back and I have already been handed a bunch of assignments, readings booklets, homework, and just a gazillion things to do... I can't keep track of everything! (even with a diary!).

All that free V

My first week back at Wintec was really fun! We had the Wintec version of O-week and I scored a mountain of free pens and V energy drink. I also managed to participate in tug-of-war and two of my friends got hypnotised in front of at least a hundred people (YMCA :P). The first week back seemed so easy and I was excited to see my friends again. But now as the semester goes on, I'm slowly realizing how much theory work is involved in second year. It is quite intense!

Different shot each day!

Crazy fire-breathing lady!

My flatmates and I :)

I am now in my third week back at Wintec and I already feel so behind (even though I'm up to date with everything). I just had ear drum reconstruction surgery last Friday, my Great-Aunty Nina passed away last Thursday (Rest in Peace Aunty Nina, you were such a beautiful and elegant person), my cousin got married the previous weekend, my Grandmother turned 89! And I am now recovering from the surgery and attempting to find a really expensive textbook that I need for my Consumer Behaviour class. There is so much to do! I have to also watch the 6pm news and write a report on it, and I don't even have television in my flat so its making everything a bit difficult! This weekend I am dedicating to my studies and attempting to get everything back on track (even if I cant hear a thing ha ha).

Sefies :)

Tune in! 97.8 The Edge FM - Waikato

I forgot to mention that I also got to go back up to Mediaworks Waikato last week and do road running with my pal Tyler :) It was loads of fun as always and we ended up participating in the Waikato University International Students Amazing Race as one of the checkpoints for the race. Was quite cool hearing all these students different accents and seeing how many people struggled to remember which way a human version of the numbers 97.8 were supposed to go ha ha.

Them crazy Jungle people!

This week is the real O-week... which means PARTIES, PARTIES and more PARTIES!!! This is my third year as a student and this is the first time I am attending O-week. (Although I am recovering from surgery so there is not alot I am attending.) But its full on and I am currently suffering from not sleeping for over 36 hours... oops... my bad!

O-WEEK

Anyway... I am off to sleep so that I can wake up tomorrow and do more homework and study and hopefully catch up properly on everything that I need to do. I'll try not to leave my blogging for almost 3 weeks again.

Over and Out

Katie the Radio Girl x

RAPTURE 2014

OH MY GOSH!!

Cool Kids! Myself, Rick and Ruby!

My girl Ruby!

Last night... seeing Eminem live with my best friend Ruby and my classmate (and her cousin) Rick... was actually one of the best moments of my life! You never really can say someone is an artist until you view their work in person annnnd WOW! Eminem is my idol! The last concert I went to was Good Charlotte (they are my favourite band) but nothing will ever be greater than seeing Eminem LIVE! (Thanks Dad for my xmas present! I owe you big time! Wanna go to The Rolling Stones?) :)

Rapture 2014 was EPIC! From the 55,000 plus crowd... to the acts... 360, David Dallas, Action Bronson, J-Cole and of course Eminem!.. to the incredibly scary mosh pit! It was all just epic! I am still in awe of everything!

Marshall Mathers!

I must admit that I actually only caught glimpses of Eminem actually on stage... the rest was on the big screens and on my photos.... Being short and going to a concert is actually pretty hard...  And I'm not the only short person who can say that! (http://totalsororitymove.com/44-things-every-short-girl-can-relate-to/)
but it was worth it! I want to say thanks to all the dudes who let me in front of them so I could actually see ha ha. And to all of the chicks who elbowed me in the face and stood right in front of me knowing I was clearly shorter than them... I vow one day to attend a concert on stilts and stand in front of you! ha ha. But seriously... shorter people should get priority to be at the front!

360 Performing

Okay I'm done with promoting short people rights... Back to the actual concert...

My favourite acts were 360 and Eminem... I remember starting radio back in 2012 and I used to play Boys like you - 360 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDGSlfXsRiw) all the time! It was a good song to play! and hearing it live last night made it even better!

When I was younger, I was more of a Kelly Clarkson/Jesse McCartney kid... my brother was the one who was always cranking up Eminem at our house, collecting all his albums and trying to act just like him... As I grew older I fell in love with Eminem (and all kinds of other great music) and when he played his greatest hits last night... coeufvgijscbh!! Knew all the words instantly! (Sorry that you didn't get to come Nick... p.s. I stole your old Eminem CDs... Ha ha you aint getting them back now)

To sum last night up in 3 words... EXTREMELY EPICALLY AMAZING! ha ha.

Anyways I'm signing off for now because I am super tired! Getting lost and stuck in traffic... in Auckland... meant we didnt get home till around 3am. And today is my last day for a long time that I actually get to sleep during the day and use the "holidays" excuse. 8am class tomorrow... wish me luck!

Peace out,

Katie the Radio Girl!

Dem Crowds!

Eminem Hoodie! Gunna love it for the rest
of my life!

Rick, Ruby and Baylee

Baylee, Myself and Rick

Ruby, Baylee and I

Us being us!

Gotta add a selfie in!

Eminem!!!

This is heading into my scrapbook!

Red Zone!

Bought a bottle of water... and they took the caps from us because
they were worried people would throw them at Eminem haha

J-Cole!

Amazing!