First and foremost, I want to make it abundantly clear that doing journalism at Georgetown -- or anywhere for that matter -- is what YOU make of it. People do not walk around campus handing out internships to The Washington Post; you have to involve yourself, gain experience, and get your name out there. That said, GU and Washington, DC offer a multitude of opportunities for the former, if you have the patience and gumption to work at your craft, ask questions, and make connections.

I will be the first to unabashedly admit that I came to Georgetown for two major reasons: its reputation and location. I have always wanted to write, and Washington was the ideal place to pursue this line of work, given its wealth of publications, research institutes, and forums for all kinds of writing exploration.

While my journalism experience is perhaps a bit different than some (I did not even take my first journalism class until senior year, having studied it and been involved in publications since high school), I hope it will provide some insight into making these four years work for you.

I spent my freshman year working as a staff writer for The Hoya, covering about one to three stories a week and getting bylines on the front page (not too hard a task if you are willing to report the tougher stories and spend some time conducting on and off campus interviews). Some of my articles were even picked up by the college AP wire. However, a busy freshman year with too many commitments (the freshman plague of overexertion) led to me dropping my position with The Hoya and striking out on my own in search of internships, those glorious (at times tedious) forays into the working world that are ESSENTIAL if you want to make a go at becoming a writer.

A rule of thumb: the more and varied the better and it's never too early to start. When applying for work, look for all sorts of possible positions -- not just as an editorial assistant -- to increase your chances of getting hired. When one place turns you down, which will happen, often, go to another, and just refuse to take 'no' for an answer.

I jumped from work as a staff writer at a daily newspaper to a PR news liaison position at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History to TV/Film production at National Geographic to magazine journalism at National Geographic Traveler to work in the Political Unit during an election year at ABC News all in the course of my four years at GU.

Each placement helped me gain a position at the next, and while there, I let them know immediately of my ambitions, what I wanted from the experience, and where I hoped it would take me. I spoke to people, asked questions, offered to help on whatever projects they needed -- in short made myself known and available. Georgetown is a name that opens doors; use that to your advantage and once there, show them what you are capable of -- it's bound to pay off in the long run.

I basically used DC as my journalist playground. I pumped the city and all its locales for jobs, made the most of where I lived, and maximized my time at school. It was hard work, but it paid off. Upon graduation, I signed a contract with a newspaper I used to work for in Florida, The Orlando Sentinel, to work as a freelance foreign correspondent in Asia, where I am currently traveling on a seven month backpacking trip. (FYI: Keeping in touch with former employers and editors, always dropping them lines to keep them updated on your progress, is a really good idea, as it may just lead to gainful employment!)

In essence, I cannot emphasize enough what power you as an individual have to dictate your journalistic future. Do not wait around for something to miraculously come your way -- take classes, apply for internships, get published wherever you can, and utilize your environment to its fullest potential. In the end, you never know where it might take you ...