The perks of being a journalist

Imagine this. A group of enthusiastic students ready to take out their pens all set to scribble away something that will hopefully one day be of use in the journalistic world. I sat as one of those excited kids, ready to mark her step in hopefully, changing the world one day. A teacher enters, and ushers, “If you are here to change the world, please don’t think that is possible.”

Three years into that course where every day you are asked to push a new boundary, academically, physically and emotionally, today, I am a journalist with just about 10 months of experience. Along with the 5Ws and 1H, what also stuck with me was that particular line. Were my dreams of making a difference really possible, considering the magnitude of problems, insecurities, poverty and sadness that engulfed human existence?

A week old in the real world of media, I had met a Hungarian artist who is now settled in Hyderabad and had her own little world of paintings and sketches. Her journey to India had started with a Google search for animation studios in India. A chance click landed her in Hyderabad. From a tourist in 2001, today she is a total Hyderabadi. That was followed by a series of artists, who didn’t bother much about the remuneration they received from their passion but the message it conveyed.

A few months down the line, I had written articles on various mundane as well as essential topics in the world, from the tourist places in and around the city, the various start-ups in the ‘hi-tech’ city of India to the fashion designers, the do-gooders and even the latest trends in the technology and fashion world. While every chance meeting with a new personality, introduced me to a whole new dimension of information, I realised something along the way.

Changing the world doesn’t mean taking a sword and fighting with the problems of the world. It does not necessarily require one to be against every social norm that predictably dominates our society.

For the start up guy, change is making photo sharing easier for families living far away from each other, for the fashion designer, change is dedicating his/her line to a cause, for the do-gooders, it’s all about spreading a smile. For me, it is every time I let the world know about these people through the power of words. That is me taking one step at a time and trying my best to ensure that their work doesn’t go unnoticed.

True, it doesn’t change the world. But maybe, somewhere, a budding artist is encouraged, a young college going girl gets the courage to start something of her own, a young activist is inspired to stand up and believe in his/her cause. Hopefully, with my ardent desire to travel and know more people, I never stop letting a small fraction of the world know that in every sphere and everyone’s periphery, lies a little scope for development.

A recent conversation, restored my faith on what I have always believed in - The power of dreams. Take a leap of faith and do something that marks development in your vicinity and you have contributed in helping to change the world.

For me, being a minuscule part of this dynamic world, one of the perks of being a journalist is doing my fair share of work towards that change.