Wow, this summer flew by.
It seems like yesterday I was writing this column as an introduction to The Western Producer. Now I am writing this exit column.
Four months ago, I began my time here, the same time seeding started, so I was helping on the farm while also trying to learn the ins-and-outs of reporting for the WP’s digital offerings and the weekly newspaper.
I only had eight months in journalism school at the University of Regina to refine my writing skills, but was expected to carry my weight from the beginning.
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Largely working on my own, I could tell my supervisors trusted me from the get go, probably more than I trusted myself.
They let me figure things out on my own, which gave me the confidence I now have in my abilities, such as travelling across Saskatchewan and meeting big names and new faces.
One of my first stories was covering the release of Soileos fertilizer at a Regina event. It was overwhelming for an intern with one month of work experience, but my Regina-based colleague, Karen Briere, was unavailable for the day, leaving me as the only one in the city to cover it.
With little knowledge of what I was getting into, I walked into the Conexus Cultivator event to rub elbows with company presidents, researchers and provincial and federal agriculture ministers.
I didn’t feel out of place. I knew what had to be done and knew I could do it. Having that trust in me and giving me freedom let me grow.
In my opening column, I expressed my excitement to meet new people. Well, the people I met this summer at field tours, press conferences and even over the phone were remarkable.
Not to mention the people I met at The Western Producer, who were welcoming and supportive.
Karen was super helpful in figuring out things I struggled with, and I regret that I didn’t get an opportunity to meet everyone in other WP locations because I mainly worked from home. However, everyone made sure I felt comfortable and didn’t stress out too much.
So as my internship comes to an end, I accomplished exactly what I hoped to. I improved my skills while meeting tons of great new people along the way.
