By: Maggie Seppi, Assistant News Editor

If only I could count the number of times strangers, family friends and fellow students have told me “It’s tough out there these days, especially in the newspaper business,” I’d probably cry out of discouragement, or scream out of anger. Either way, I don’t want to hear it.

Yeah, it’s true, it’s a hell of a lot harder to get a job today – in any field – than it was way back when. But instead of feeding into the opinions of those who are certain I will never be employed, or at least that it will be a fight to the death to find even an unfulfilling career, I’m going to make a name for myself in the newspaper business. And, for that matter, in any other business I choose to be a part of.

To give you an idea of how these conversations usually play out, I’ll let you in on my latest “What’s your major? Oh, you’ll never get a job” confrontation.

This past month, I was involved in a lively discussion with my mom’s friend about my major, which, if you can’t tell, is journalism. I was given the “Oooooh, what are you going to do since this newspaper business is dying and all?’ Sure, it was more subtle than that, but those words seemed to permeate this discussion in some form or another.

I said I was hoping to start working for the school newspaper and that I would apply for internships and maybe find a job.

The first of my goals has been successfully completed.

I’d say even that example will suffice to demonstrate how wrong that family friend was and how unnecessary his disheartening words of advice were.

I’m aware newspaper subscriptions across the country are struggling, but the Internet is proving to be a viable alternative to papers. And the fact that people will always need to receive the news helps.

I may not have accomplished my second goal yet, but I have another year of college and a growing determination to make it happen.

It seems the only realistic major anyone can agree on is something involving the medical field. And a career in that field may very well guarantee a hefty paycheck, but I refuse to suffer through classes I hate to get that paycheck. I refuse to accept that I have to do something I’m only mildly interested in, just to end up with a three-bedroom instead of a one-bedroom. I’m ready for the struggles. I’m ready to prove wrong everyone that has and will continue to tell me how hard it’s going to be to succeed.

It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, as long as you know what to do with it. This goes for all majors. If you’re going into something that is economy-sensitive, you’re just going to have to work a little harder. You’re going to have to put yourself and your work out there and probably a little farther out there than you’re comfortable with.

Don’t let these people and their words of not-so-much wisdom bring you down. If you love what you are doing, keep searching for a practical way to apply it.

I may not be able to see my name in print at my doorstep every day, but I assure you, my byline will be out there. And I will be proud of it every day, especially the days I’m standing in my studio apartment, wondering what the hell I got myself into but knowing I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

Email Maggi at [email protected].