When I traveled to Europe the summer after high school, my mom handed me a credit card right before I boarded the plane. She looked at me sternly and said, “Use this only for emergencies.” The next three weeks were filled with “emergencies.” It was an emergency when I found the cutest jacket at EuroDisney. It was also an emergency when I was starving for a Belgian waffle on the streets of Belgium. The “emergencies” continued until I reached the $500 limit. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Blog/Sample Work
Sell Me Like THAT
I’ve never been a fan of sales people. As a journalist, I’m naturally skeptical and I always feel like sales people are trying to pull the wool over my eyes. I question whether they really have my best interests in mind or if they are truly looking out for themselves. I generally dislike when people try to sell me. A car lot is a miserable place for me because I have this internal struggle of trying to stay strong and negotiate while carefully monitoring my budget and my needs/wants. Door-to-Door sales people make me even more uncomfortable. I feel like they are barging into my private life and interrupting my day.
In this Room …
Tonight, after a 13-hour day of teaching and advising, I stood in the doorway of our student newsroom and paused with my head and my heart heavy. It was late and my kids at home were missing me, but I didn’t want to leave. It was the last production night of the semester and I don’t deal well with the “last” of anything, especially in this room. An outsider might not see the appeal of the newsroom. It is littered with soda cans, pizza boxes and empty energy drink containers. Papers overflow every desk and cameras are piled unorganized on the corner table. The recycled, dilapidated couch from Goodwill sits in the middle of the room and the floor looks as if it hasn’t seen a mop in a few months, if not years. However, this room is the most appealing place on campus to me.
A Quick Guide to Puberty
Your son's voice is changing, your daughter's chest is developing, and as a parent, you're not sure how to help your children weather the physical and emotional storm that is brewing. Puberty is often portrayed as an obstacle, but if addressed in a positive manner, these changes can build stronger relationships between you and your child. Primarily, as a parent, it is crucial for you to understand the changes that will affect your child during puberty. It is more than just body changes—puberty affects your child's mental state, emotional state, and social wellbeing.
Set Clear Rules to Achieve Safe Parties for Young Teens
If there’s ever a situation when parents need to set clear expectations and guidelines, it’s parties for young teens! A teen center in Illinois that’s been popular for more than 50 years offers strategies for safe and happy parties at your own home.
Raising Confident, ‘Hot’ Kids
Confidence is a double-edged sword. If you have too much, you’re labeled as a conceited jerk. If you lack enough, it can kill your drive to succeed and motivation to accomplish great things. A lack of confidence promotes giant walls impossible to scale and negativity that convinces us that the world is against us – why try, right?
Reporters Can’t Be Shy
Reporters can’t be shy. Plain and simple – there’s no other way to put it. In order to report, you have to approach people, talk with people and gather information. You can’t hide behind a computer hoping for an e-mail response from a source. You can’t base an entire story from online research and worse yet, trust all online sources. And, you can’t use the excuse – I couldn’t find any sources – if you want to stay employed. However, if you have a shy nature, there are ways to prepare yourself mentally for the task of breaking out of your shell. There are online sources that can provide multitudes of information to prepare you to ask the questions to human sources that need to be asked. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Ghost of Easter’s Past
As a kid, I loved the excitement and anticipation of Easter. This mystical big-eared creature forced me to hunt through every part of the house to find my basket filled with stuffed toys, candy and eggs. Sometimes I would find it in my room, other times the bathroom, and once in the stove.
Editors Fix. Coaches Build.
In almost every newsroom – student or professional – the animosity between copy editors and writers is often strained. Copy editors profess about commas and fragments passionately. Writers hold onto their text as if someone is trying to rob every ounce of their being. Both parties have legitimate concerns. However, when treacherous debates occur, honestly, they defeat the purpose of what both parties are trying to accomplish – producing better copy. Suggestions are misconstrued as personal attacks. Personal attacks question each person’s character, strain efforts and diminish talents. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Mommy’s Time Out
Deep down, I know that I’m a good mom. I know that my kids love me. And, I know that we all have mutual respect for each other. But, I don’t always see the effects of my parenting in the midst of our hectic schedules and daily routines. Sometimes, I need to take myself out of the “mommy” role to truly be a better parent. My job takes me to several professional development conferences every year. At these conventions and workshops, I learn how to effectively improve my teaching, my media advising and my skills as a reporter. Ironically, these conventions also teach me how to be a better parent. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 