By Tracy LaMar

Here are five nuggets of wisdom from a Media Studies department panel this month at Fullerton College:

Be willing to take any assignment: This is actually advice I give to the kids who come through educational programs where I work, because you never know where an opportunity will lead, what you’ll learn, and who you will meet. And I’m finally coming around to my own advice.
Build relationships: That’s what it’s about. Connecting, being authentic, empathizing, and following through. That’s how we’ll succeed and move forward, and find those we are able to collaborate with now and in the future.
Step outside your comfort zone: This is something I need to work on, and I’ve gotten better. I chased down people after a city council meeting I recently covered. I was so proud of myself. So, I will continue to do so, to push myself, and know that it’s OK to be a little afraid.
Don’t take it personally: Again, this is something I really need to work on. I can be very sensitive, and in the course of my career, I’ve had a lot of opportunities to work on this, but I feel like I start over when I go into something new.
Ask a lot of questions: This is something I do all of the time. It’s nice to know that even the professionals still do this. it reminds me that we are all human.