A Hot English Toddie and Some Ginger Jam

For the past month, I've been interning, sans profit, at my favorite Austin radio station, 101X (101.5 FM), specifically the morning show, the MorningX with Jason Dick and Deb O'Keefe.

I wake up at 4:50am on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, pack a light breakfast and a Red Bull, drive out to Emmis Communications in North Austin, and sit at a computer from about 6:00am-12:00pm. Ok, I made it sound unbelievably boring, but it's really not. My tasks typically include writing and posting a blog entry about each of the topics discussed on the show, editing and uploading a podcast for each segment, emailing airchecks to our sponsors such as Ideal Image, Budweiser, and Restora Austin, and, finally, I edit a few of the segments, chosen by Cassandra, my boss, and make them into Morning Xtras which are played the next morning prior to the show.


So far I've had a blast. Jason and Deb are hilarious, most of the interns are easy to get along with, and Cassandra, the associate producer of the show, is really easy-going and helpful. This has truly been a great experience for me. I'm still unsure whether or not I'm interested in pursuing a career in radio, mainly because of the money. Almost everyone that works at Emmis, aside 
from the business people like HR and Sales, has at least two jobs, which is pretty discouraging, but I'd much rather be happy and poor than miserable and wealthy. I've stood by that philosophy most of my life. I don't want to be one of those people that dreads going to work each day and never sees their family. Life is far too short for that bullshit.

It's exciting and scary to think I'll be graduating in six months. I still feel like such a baby in this world, but, at the same time, I know I'll be fine because I'm already so independent and have been for years now. If all the adults before me could do it, surely I can too. I'm excited for everything that's about to happen in my life. I'm almost done with school (for the time being), I'm about to get a REAL salary-based job, and I'm preparing to take a really big step with my boyfriend of almost a year. As frightening as it all seems, I know I can do it, and I'm ready.

"...But she was grateful for everything that had happened.
And she was anxious for all that would come next."
-bright eyes, "Waste of Paint"


For more on Jason and Deb:
MorningX Official Site
MorningX Twitter
Jason and Deb Facebook