Materials for Western

[danaeris]

"Please provide a brief statement of intent/goals."

Statement of Intent, University of Western Ontario

Life is a learning experience. Since graduating from MIT with a Bachelor of Science in Physics with Science Writing (and a minor in Creative Writing), I have been life’s apprentice. I have learned by completing a number of internships, by freelancing, and most recently, through a full-time position as a newsletter writer.

The lessons I have learned have stood me in good stead, but I know that I am capable of much more. That’s why I feel that the time has come to focus on improving my basic skills, while learning and developing more advanced skills. This is my primary reason for choosing to apply to the University of Western Ontario’s graduate program in journalism. I also hope to lay the foundations for placing my future work within a greater context.

I strongly value the intellectual independence which Western’s graduate program espouses. I believe it will provide me with a fertile environment to explore my particular interests. These include science and technology journalism, alternative press, journalistic ethics, and the evolution of journalism as new forms of media take hold.



I had a lot of trouble with this one. I sort of used my bio from my website to jump start it.


The requirements:
-an autobiographical sketch of no more than 1,000 words
-must help us understand why you are interested in journalism and/or why you think a career in journalism is the right path for you;
-in a journalistic rather than an academic essay style

Autobiography, University of Western Ontario

After a long flirtation with the right side of my brain, and a thorough exploration of the left side of my brain, I concluded that the idea that you can only be one is nonsense.

It's not that figure skating and writing angst-ridden poetry wasn't fulfilling, nor that studying Physics at MIT wasn't fascinating. In fact, these things were so great that I couldn't give up any of them. And why should I? I could go both ways! As a science writer and journalist, I could use my creativity, technical know-how, and honed writing skills to give insight into the workings of science and technology. I could have my cake and eat it too.

While at MIT I put this hypothesis to the test, interning as a science journalist at Technology Review. I was enraptured. The work was varied, challenging, and intellectually stimulating. What more could a girl want?

After graduating, I completed a four-month internship in the Office of Communications at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. I also began freelancing for the first time; since then I have written for Technology Review, Discover Magazine, Gizmodo, Digital Hub, the Toronto Star, and XTRA, as well as a trade journal and a textbook company. Freelancing is better than being a kid in a candy store: you get paid to write about whatever you find most interesting – and there are so many stories to choose from!

Following the internship with SLAC, I completed a three-month internship with the Palo Alto Weekly, and a six-month internship with WIRED Magazine. Upon my return to Canada, I became an editor at the Canadian Office Product Association, where I am responsible for the production of a weekly newsletter, as well as writing and editing a variety of materials.

Learning to be a journalist through work experience certainly hasn’t been a walk in the park. No matter how tough things got, however, I always emerged with newfound resolution to achieve my potential as a journalist.

I think I’ve hit a wall, however. Not a hard wall – it’s kind of soft and spongy. If I push myself hard, I power up… but the going is tough. I need a boost, and I think I know where to get it.

Next stop? Journalism school.


Still sick, but less sick today than yesterday or the day before.