You may have noticed an unfamiliar byline sneaking onto the pages of The Western Producer lately. It’s time I introduced myself.
I’m Heather Prystay, a fourth-year journalism student at the University of Regina, and I have the privilege of writing for the Producer for the next two months as an intern.
When people ask where I’m from, it takes awhile to explain because I’ve lived in a lot of places. I spent my high school years in Estevan, Sask., so I consider it home.
When I’m not here sweating over a keyboard trying to make deadline, I enjoy reading (you can never read Gone With The Wind too many times), movies (especially old horror flicks) and music, both listening and playing. My mission in life is to learn to play the drums. I have also spent a lot of time and gas making weekend trips to Regina, although Saskatoon is a beautiful city.
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I decided to tackle journalism because it seemed like a job that would never become boring. So far, I’ve found that to be true.
There are many people out there with stories to tell, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet some interesting men and women during my time here.
To be honest, my complete lack of math skills also played a role in my choice of career.
I don’t come from a farm family, so I had no idea how interesting agriculture could be. I’ve covered a variety of topics so far, and I’ve learned something from all of them.
I think my favorite part of working here is the diversity of stories I’ve had to write. I’ve looked at everything from gopher catchers to trucking companies.
Also, although I’m the intern, I have never once had to get anyone a cup of coffee. I have heard whispers about doing laundry, though …
When I receive my degree in April, I hope to work in the print media. I’ve developed a fondness for weekly newspapers thanks to my time here and summers at the Estevan Mercury. I would especially like to give magazine writing a try, and I’ll be able to test my skills later this fall with Western People.
I’ll be here until the beginning of December and I’m sure the rest of my time will be just as interesting. Going back to school might be a shock to my system after working in the real world, but I know everything I learn here is going to serve me well in the future.
