Don’t be afraid to throw many hats at the monsters in the closet

I graduate college in a few months and then … who knows what’s next? There are no guarantees. 

Entering sports media is frightening. I feel like I’m 5 years old, about to go to sleep, and worried that there’s a monster in the closet. But I can’t call on someone to check and make me feel safe. I’m on my own, with a future that’s uncertain. 

But there’s no reason to handcuff myself to one path. I want to be moldable like clay as I enter my career, because that level of adaptability can keep me safe. That could mean breaking away from my desire to write long-winded features to become an editor. Or learning unfamiliar sports to broaden my possibilities. I know those are out there, I just need to find them. 

Among the things I’ve learned? How to write a running story. That sports checks reign supreme. And to let go of my expectations, ride the wave and adapt to my circumstances. 

When I graduate, I don’t want to be a rock -- stuck in place, refusing to move or change. Because then I’ll be left behind, gathering dust, slowly eroding. 

I don’t know what my future in this business will hold, but I will enjoy the process and adapt to new circumstances. That way, if the monster in the closet reveals itself it will do so as a jumbled mess of clothing. So that what scares me the most eventually doesn’t bother me.