Last week in Writing Lab, I was asked to write an autobiography in 250 words. How can that be done? How can a rambler like me chop down my life into a double spaced page?

Surprisingly, the hardest part was having the guts to write highly of myself to a writing professional. Sure I can do this and I can do that, but can I write that down on paper clearly, concisely and creatively? 

A flood of anxiety reminds me of the feeling I had before my valedictory address in grade 12 at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough, Ontario. I reminded myself I was elected as the spokesperson for my graduating class, calming my nerves. My interpretation of the past four years was the one that was being heard the loudest. This moment, from start to finish, is what connects me to public relations.

Sharing the same beliefs as my classmates added to the excitement of being chosen as valedictorian. As a naturally strong communicator, I delivered a speech that my peers related to. As a well-rounded representative, I connected with people from different clubs and committees before, during and after my speech. How I presented myself then and how I do now, has turned a career choice that is ideal for me. 

A flood of tears reminds me of the feeling I had at the end of my valedictory speech when my classmates rose from their seats in unison to give me a standing ovation. Five years laters, I still have a voice that wants and needs to be heard. Through my experiences such as this one, I am constantly reassured that I belong in public relations.  

If you’re wondering what the answer is, it’s hell yeah. That, up there, proves it (and my teacher even said so). 

I haven’t come here to declare that I’ve revamped myself and am going to blog my life by the hour from this moment forward, but I am here to say: here’s to writing more! Probably about songs or Louis CK or Saturday Night Live because that’s what I listen to and read while cruising on public transit. 

I’m enrolled in a new (to me) program (post-grad PR for those interested/concerned) at school in Toronto. It’s too good to be true. Let me repeat because repeating is important. It’s too good to be true. Getting to know me now is pretty fun, but getting to know me in 8 months, even 2 months or a week from now may just a little bit more. BECAUSE I’M LEARNING WHAT I LIKE. BECAUSE I LIKE WHAT I’M LEARNING. Do you know how much that makes a difference? Holy cow, you guys, a larger than life difference. 

This is food for thought for right now and what I was told in the first class I was in: “The pursuit of truth has turned into the pursuit for profit.” Um, pardon? 

Let me put my next two semesters like this: Oh boy am I in for a goodie(s).

For the followers who care, this also means I’m back on the Tumblr scene. Hayley Walks to School has retired or gone on hiatus as I’m back at home with an undergrad degree in my back pocket and no classes to walk to. (The ones I’m taking right now are only online. I guess I could post the songs I listen to as I walk to my computer but that’s like 20 seconds at most and you know, boring). 

Anyway, I have changed the blog title from Hayley Walks to School to Hayley Happenings. What I do right, what I do wrong, what I do, what I don’t do, what I should do, you name it, I’ll be writing about it.

Overall, my lack of Tumblr posts can be blamed on my ba-ba-booming interest in Twitter. But 140 characters can only make a statement, not a story. My new face Tumblr is going to be my story-telling outlet for the most part. The title of this post is fitting/making sense now, right?