My NYC Career Journey Almost Ruined My Self-Esteem — But I’m Building It Back
- Mar 7, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 7, 2025
I knew I wanted to be a journalist and storyteller from a very young age. My first byline? A contribution to my elementary school’s newsletter, The Winkleblott. That passion only grew as I fell in love with English and literature, realizing how words could transport an audience to a completely different dimension. The power of storytelling amazed me. But it wasn’t until I understood how impactful it could be to tell other people’s stories that I knew journalism was my calling. And honestly? Journalism has always been a form of advocacy for me.
When I graduated from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University — one of the top five journalism schools in the country at the time — in 2008, I thought I was set. I knew the industry was tough, but I felt like I had done everything to prepare myself. Boy, was I in for a rude awakening.
I moved to New York City in 2009 with a plan: earn my master’s degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice to give myself career options, especially in journalism. Social justice journalism wasn’t a “thing” at the time, so while I knew I had a unique angle, the industry didn’t quite know what to do with me.
I did everything right. I landed internships at both local and national outlets. I networked my ass off. But nothing was sticking. I bounced between internships, contract gigs, and admin roles in media, but never secured a full-time job where I could tap into my creativity and make a livable wage. And by livable, I mean more than $40K in NYC (yes, really).
Countless rounds of interviews that led to nothing. Being ghosted after unpaid interview assignments, yet seeing my strategy on their social platforms or the stories I pitched and developed being reported by someone else. It felt like a never-ending cycle that crushed me. I started questioning myself — was I not good enough? Was I missing something? I had the credentials, but the doors just wouldn’t open. So, I looked elsewhere. I wanted success, or at least what I thought success looked like.
In 2014, I pivoted to real estate. The plan was simple: do rentals, make decent money, and figure out my next move. Then, on my first deal, I sold a million-dollar townhouse. That changed everything. Real estate taught me that success doesn’t come from waiting for someone to say, “You’re good enough.” It’s about making your own moves, putting in the work, and showing up — no permission needed.
That shift in mindset stayed with me when I found my way back to journalism. In 2017, I went to grad school again — this time at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism — to update my skills and build a stronger network. I hustled — contract work, freelancing, working at the school as a program assistant, then the temporary social media manager, whatever it took. Finally, landing a full-time role at CBS Mornings and then moved on to The Intercept. And now, I’ve landed a career I love at a non-profit, blending my criminal justice background with my storytelling passion. I finally feel successful and fulfilled in my day job.
But here’s the thing: I still held onto a fear of being seen even after all that. I didn’t realize how much rejection early in my career made me shrink myself. Even with the right credentials, being seen often meant being told no — or worse, feeling like I wasn’t good enough. So now, I’m pushing past that.
That’s why I’m taking on a 90-day challenge and documenting it on social media — to step fully into content creation, share my story, and reclaim my confidence in a bigger way. No more playing small. No more waiting for permission. Just showing up and doing the work.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from this journey, it’s that I’m more than enough — I always have been.
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