Last summer my friend, LB, had an internship doing public relations. Two of the people she worked with had a little secret: they “blog.” She came to visit me for a weekend and let me in on her own little secret….she started blogging. My initial reaction was…..surprised? I thought it was interesting, and brave, but not something I could ever do. I’m not a blogge”. I mean, it’s really personal right? Like an online journal or something? What if people you know read it? What if you reveal too much about yourself?

Well, I started reading her blog, and I really liked it.

*wheels start turning…*

I had always said I wanted to be a writer. Not as in short stories and novels, not as in flowery fiction romantic whatevers, and not as in memoirs or biographies. I wanted to be a writer as in, I Love this web site and I want to write stuff like That! And it hit me; if I want to write for a web site, why not start by writing for my own??

That’s basically what these blogs are, right? This is MY page. My web site. This is me, now. I put whatever I want on this blog. I even control how it looks (umm…to an extent. Hi, I have no idea how to write a CSS or HTML code, but I wish I did!!). Sure, it’s not going to show up if you put my full name into a “Google” search, but it’s here and it’s mine. Some people who know me know about it, but I’m not passing out fliers to advertise it.

I will admit it took me a while to actually do it. It scared me that my writing would be accessible to the public. It’s here for all to see, which also means it’s here for all to criticize or to love. But that’s the reality of writing, is it not? If I want to have opportunities to do it in the future, I have to have something to show for it, right? I have to know that I’m okay with knowing that anybody can see these words. That’s the point of having web sites and magazines in the first place. You want people to read them!

So my personal blog was born. It started off a little rough, but I’ve gotten used to writing about the everyday things and the cooking things and the little weird things about me. I don’t go too in depth about anything personal, and probably never will. I’m not sure why, maybe it’ll come at some time.
Now here I am, a few months later, and I blog because…..

…now I have had the opportunity to take the next step! I was contacted by someone who saw my personal blog and now I write for JobWeb once a week, about my life now  and over the next year or so. Graduating, job-searching, baking, working, shopping, running…..the things I learn and want to pass on to you in the process.

…Now I am addicted to writing and reading a lot of other great blogs!

…I love what it has allowed me to do with my writing, and I love how my writing has changed because of it. I also love that I actually write. I find myself going through each day thinking about what topic I want to do next! When something weird/entertaining happens to me, I think…. “I should blog about that.” I guess in many ways it has turned me into a story-teller. 

 I was even able to mention my blog in an interview I had for my top-choice graduate program in January.  It was an example of how I’m learning to use technology, and how I think it can be used as a valuable tool for education.  Almost every company, big or small, has a web site.  This would mean they have to hire people to manage, create, and write for that web site. It can say whatever they want it to, and portray whatever message they choose; much like this little blog of mine. 

…It allows me to meet some pretty fabulous people, and exchange fabulous e-mails! Because really, who isn’t addicted to e-mail? Don’t lie. I also met someone who gave me tips while I was training for the race, plus she loves Stacy & Clinton as much as I do!

Anyway. Hi, I’m Heather. I’m totally a blogger.

Posted by Mary Ellen Nunes at 04/15/2008 08:07:33 AM