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
