This is something I wrote for my blog journalistbynite, but as I progress in this crazy dream of mine...I figure I should start posting some stuff here.  All comments are welcome.

Since I was a child in San Jose, I've been obsessed with the entertainment industry. Anything that could be on a stage or a screen I was into. Lately, it's been journalism and this post explains how my dream came to be.

This dream probably began with all the news and magic shows I saw on TV, with David Copperfield and Lance Burton. I did that as a little kid doing magic tricks, and inviting all the neighbor kids to watch. In the fourth grade, I was a candy-cane in a production of the Nutcracker. In fifth grade, I ran the lights and sound board for a play about the Electric Sunshine Man. In junior high, it was Anne of Green Gables, put on by the English teacher. In high school, it was too many plays, musicals, and school rallies to count. In high school the magic stopped (because it wasn't as cool), and I concentrated on juggling. High school was also where I learned about the wonders of TV.

Everyday for five minutes, the school's announcements were put on TV for the entire high school to see. During my freshman year, I passed by the "studio" everyday after my computer class. It had "ON AIR lights," and everything. I would stay by the door as students who were running it were finishing up. One day, I got invited in. I saw all the wires, all the controls, and all the TV monitors. That was an amazing place. Eventually, I worked my way up, and waited for the other students to graduate. Then it was my turn. As a senior, I was finally in charge. I loved everything behind the camera, but could never bring myself to be in front of it.

I got involved with a lot of other video and theater projects some for class, some not. But I could never shake that feeling of a live show. Sometime during my senior year, I decided that TV news is what I wanted to do for a career. Also during that time, a show titled "Sports Night" was airing on ABC. It was about all the antics that go on just before a nightly sports show. That's what did it. The news business was for me. I wanted to be a TV news producer.

Although I was involved with all kinds of videos, theater, and the daily TV show. I settled on broadcasting/journalism/TV because I loved the idea of a daily show. I thought that theater didn't pay enough, and movies and TV shows were too difficult to get into. More on this later.

In 2002, I began studying engineering at UCI. I was initially an electrical engineer, but after almost failing out...I switched to civil engineering. Yeah, I know it's a far cry from the world of TV news...and...broadcasting. I never really wanted to be an engineer, but under family pressures and the thought about failing or not having a job...that's what ended up happening.

In 2007, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, and landed a sweet job as a traffic engineer. To tell you all the truth, I actually liked it. If I didn't always like the work, I liked what they were paying me. Plus imagine being 23, and getting a signing bonus right out of college. I had never made that much money during my entire life.

However, it was money that caused another family argument. With that argument and the recession worsening early in 2008, I decided that it was time to go for my broadcasting dream. As I began researching different degree programs, I determined that the local community college would be my best option for the time being. So far, I've been happy with it. I work as an engineer on most days, and then go to school on my days off or at night (hence the journalism by night theme). I've been able to network a little bit, scored an internship that's flexible with me, and have just been learning. It's been an amazing ride so far.

So far, through my experiences, I've met all kinds of people. I've met reporters, news photographers, even executives from the LA Times. I've also met all kinds of people in the entertainment industry. Most everyone that I've come into contact with has been more than helpful or supportive. This why I've come to the conclusion that working on a TV show/movie isn't as hard as people make it out to be. Please don't confuse that with working on a TV show/movie is easy...it is very hard work with very long hours. Just landing your first gig is hard enough. It's hard work, but if you really want it you can do it. I've seen it time and time again.

So for now, I'm an engineer by day and a journalist by nite. It's a great combination, and I can't wait to see where it's going to take me. And that is how my journalistic dream came to be.