By Diana Cuero

The most important to me is performing well at a job that I enjoy. Finding a job that I enjoy and that I excel at is most important because the money can be spent quickly, but the job will remain. It would be horrible to have to wake up everyday and go to a job that I do not like. If I don’t like my job, I will not do my best. Consequently, if I do not do my best, others may be affected by my attitude. Money is not the most important thing in the world. Sometimes people get so obsessed with having money, that they forget the true meaning of happiness. One does not need a lot of money to survive. They need only enough to take care for themselves and their loves ones.

I am a senior at GateWay Early College High School, with a full time job at Classic Residence by Hyatt and The Plaza Companies. We are down to our last month of school, and because of the requirements of some of my classes, I don’t know if I will pass them and graduate this year. I have a Capstone Portfolio class that requires 40 hours of community service to pass the class, but it’s really difficult for me when I have a full time job that has me scheduled to work weekdays and weekends; I have little time to do so.

The only days that I have available to interview are Mondays and Wednesdays because of my college class that I attend, but every other day I am at school or at work. Along with the forty hours of community service that we have to complete, this class has other options that to choose that are required for this class to pass. This is not the only class that I am stressed about; the rest of my classes worry me because I have a full schedule this year. Because I didn’t do so well in my previous high school years, I am stacked with homework and need additional help sometimes. So what keeps going through my mind is, “Will I be able to complete all of my assignments and finish my requirements for Capstone on time so I can graduate this year?”

I remember the day the guys from Pursue The Passion came in to do their presentation. I was so pumped! I had never heard of such an interesting program and I really looked forward to doing my own interviews. The guys explained the project and the basics of it. I remember talking to my classmates afterwards. We were ALL excited about it, especially me.

Since I was younger, I can remember finding an excitement in media; journalism is what I have always wanted to do. Some think that Journalism is just reporting, but there is more to that! It’s a broad field that includes a lot of different careers, but overall has the same goal: to inform. That is what I want to do everyday of my life- inform people, let them know about current events going on nation wide.

The Pursue the Passion program is a great idea for young adults like me to investigate different careers before they make a final decision and for those who are sure of what career they want, it’s sort of reassuring yourself. I think it’s a great idea to do this, that way we can all work hard not only to be professionals at something, but to enjoy what we do for a living. Once the program came into place, I started searching for Journalists I could meet. After searching, I interviewed three different journalists, Angela Gonzales (Senior Reporter), Annalyn Censky (Intern Reporter), and Victor Hugo Rodriguez.

Ms. Gonzales and Ms. Censky, both reporters at The Business Journal, provided me with wonderful stories about working in newspaper. They both described how they feel when their work is put on paper and distributed across Phoenix. As a Senior Reporter, Angela Gonzales explained how networking is very important to get the career you want and how knowing people of different professions can always help you with whatever you may need. Annalyn Censky let me know that as an intern, she has gained a lot of experience working with actual reporters which will benefit her after she is done with her internship. Annalyn also highlighted that internships for Journalism are a big step ahead during or after high school. You gain experience before heading into the workforce and potential employers really look to see if you’re skilled as a journalist.

Victor Hugo Rodriguez, a newscast reporter for Univisión, provided me with helpful tips for being a reporter prior to the Interview. Before I interviewed Mr. Rodriguez, I was very nervous knowing that he was a professional reporter. He knows a lot about interviews and asking the right questions, so I thought he would be bored by my interview. On the contrary, from my arrival to the Univisión studio, he kindly showed me around the studio and provided me with the information I needed. At the end of the interview I was very thankful; he shared his knowledge and experiences with me and that truly took my passion for Journalism to another level.

The three people I interviewed had different stories; however, they all loved Journalism! Their thoughts helped reassured my own. I know that I have to work hard for what I want, just like they did, and I will not give up. I know I can do it and I will continue to Pursue my Passion and eventually have a career I love- as a Journalist.

When Zach and I went to Gateway to encourage students to blog, I remember a conversation between Dina, today’s blogger, and her student neighbors. It was a heated discussion on whether or not it is important to love what you do for a living. One student valued money while Dina, well, I’ll let her tell it…By-Dina GarciaPersonally, I think that everyone should really love their job because if they don’t, then why are they wasting their time?It’s important that when people go to their job, they enjoy and show a positive attitude towards it. When I started clinicals in my nursing class, I encountered many nurses who were angry about their job. I heard them complaining and, in turn, treating the patients badly. They did so because they disliked their job; however, there were other nurses who loved their job and, consequently, they would treat their patients with kindness and dignity. Each day they were glad about what they did.When I start my job as a nurse, I hope that I will love my job because the most amazing thing about nursing is helping others.

My interview was great because I received personal advice from an entrepreneur who has had much experience in the business arena, Maria Alvarez. I did not have to ask many questions because Maria answered everything.

I honestly thought her story was very interesting because the way she had me hooked and I didn’t think 30 minutes would be enough. She told me about how she went from taking care of fourth graders to taking care of drunks at her husband’s bar. She also sold designer clothing like Guess and Tommy Hilfiger. Since they are very popular, she went to different states to find better deals and resold them in Arizona for much higher prices. She also owned a taco truck and bought a location in South Phoenix which she eventually expanded into a video store. She targeted her business to the Hispanic community because in her video store she had a huge selection of Mexican movies and the taco truck also blended with the business because people would order take out and go home to eat and watch movies.

Overall the interview was fantastic; I learned many skills and facts that I need for the future like licenses, taxes, profits, budgets, who am I targeting my business to and many more. She gave me great advice about business and how there will always be three major necessities in the world which are food, drinks, and clothing. This interview has made me more comfortable about the business area and of what to expect in the future when I become an entrepreneur myself.

This past month has been kind of hectic because of the fact that we were introduced to a new class called Capstone Portfolio. This class involves a lot of new material I was never conscious of. We are required to complete numerous amounts of tasks in order to graduate this year; therefore, all my college work has been consuming most of my time and has limited my productivity in my Capstone class. With graduation approaching so soon, it has put a lot of pressure on me in the way of me completing all of my work for every class. It has also been difficult to maintain a high GPA for all of this. It has put a lot of stress on me because the Capstone class requires me to complete certain tasks that have to be done outside of the school such as job shadows, interviews, and community service so my time was definitely limited. In the beginning of the semester I was not as worried about Capstone, until all of the deadlines kept approaching; therefore, I realized I had to take the course seriously. The reason I want to do so well in the class is so I may be able to graduate without having to worry about my G.P.A. suffering in the long run; consequently, I must reduce the amount of procrastination that is going into my school work. The only thing I hope to accomplish is to successfully complete my college courses with exceptional grades and raise my G.P.A. to at least a 3.2 or 3.3.

Four years ago I was still looking for the right high school to attend. Today, 20 lbs heavier, a senior at GateWay Early College High School and no longer looking for the perfect high school, I sit here with a mixtures of emotions.

Yes Class 2008!!! After all this time I am finally graduating. I never imagined what a satisfaction it would be to graduate. But my deepest satisfaction comes from having earned 42 college credits! However, I am not completely happy. I would be if I knew what would be next, but I do not. I am full of hope and dreams and dreams for the future, but they just seem so unattainable. I know I want to go to college, but I don’t know which one. I have applied to A.S.U., but I have also looked into going out of state; my adventurous heart tells me to.

While graduating high school brings me joy, the confusion and uncertainty of what the future holds worries me. But I know that just like four years ago I found the perfect high school for me, I will find my way to a brighter future.

Graduation seems to be getting closer and closer while the assignments get harder and harder. I’m excited to graduate, but also really scared. It’s going to be difficult doing everything on my own- getting money for school, supporting myself, and all that grown up stuff you never think you’re going to do. Then again, I have done so much planning and research on my career and future life, I don’t think I will have any problems. I will encounter bumps in the road, but nothing I can’t overcome.

I want to become a nurse; I already have a year of college under my belt and, if all goes well, I will be on the waiting list for nursing classes by the end of the 2009 spring semester. I am really excited about starting my career. Once I earn my degree, I want to travel and work in different countries. I want to learn as much as I can about the medical field as well as the world. I have always had a passion for science and anything to do with the medical field. Sooner than I know I will be a nurse and doing everything I have always wanted to do.

It is easy to pursue money out of school. Lots of us do this. I did it. Maricela Campos of Gateway High School writes that you should love your job.

by Marciela Campos

Waking up loving your job and what you do in life is such an important factor for everyone. Loving what you do is an easier way to start life after high school. In order to be satisfied from within, it’s necessary to determine your talents, to feel the love for the job you’re pursuing.

Yes, money is everything now days and it’s a financial world, but do what you love; the money will surely follow.

You will soon grow tired of having a job you hate, that you just took for the money. On the other hand, loving your job will bring you great satisfaction and the great pleasure of helping those in any given way, making you want to do it everyday and even in a better way.

Sadly to say, half of Americans dislike their jobs, waking up everyday unsatisfied and unhappy. Honestly, why be in a job if there is no love towards it? After high school I am pursing my dream job to become a teacher. I love teaching because I will do what is important to me, opening children’s minds to new great ideas and opportunities in life. Loving what you do will take you far and open the doors to many great opportunities. All it takes is finding what you feel fits right for you and feel the love for what you do.

For the avid readers of this website, you will begin to see a change in the content that is featured on our journey blog. That’s because we have opened up the site for submissions from high school students who are involved in the Pursue the Passion program currently making its way into Phoenix high schools.

Students will address topics that range from their thoughts on the workforce to what they took away from their own Pursue the Passion interviews.

It is a new direction for our website, one that should offer a unique, introspective look into the mind of high school students. Zach and I will continue to mix in our blog posts as well.

Profiled below are the first two entries I’ve received from Amanda Patrie’s senior class at Gateway High School, one discussing top three dream jobs, the other highlighting the journey a family has taken from genocide in Rwanda to opportunity in America.