What do you want to be when you grow up? That question, one tiny, insignificant question is 95% guaranteed to give any grade 10 student immense stress. I had a hard time deciding what I was going to wear this morning, and you expect me to pick the career I will be stuck with my entire life? When my teachers asked my whole class one October morning, telling us that we were going to do a project around the idea of our future careers, I almost had a heart attack.
This specific project is unlike any other I’ve done in my 11 years of school, and it has helped solidify my confidence in pursuing journalism. Back in October, though, I wouldn’t have believed you if you told me this would be a fun project—let alone my favourite of the term. Yet, as I progressed through each step, I found myself more engaged and invested in the process.
The first step was creating a résumé, but not just any résumé—one that visually represented me and my brand. Unlike the standard black-and-white résumés I had made before, this one required thoughtful design elements, colours, and formatting that made it stand out. I went through multiple rounds of revisions, tweaking everything from the layout to the wording to ensure it was polished and professional. When I was finished, it was something that became a representation of myself on a professional front and something I could see myself using in the future. Though it was a challenge, I was incredibly proud of the final product.
At the same time, I was also designing a business card, which turned out to be ten times more difficult. Every time I submitted a version, my teachers sent it back with feedback, telling me it didn’t truly capture who I was. After eight different attempts—each one refining my brand further—I finally created a design that felt like me. It had elements of writing, and newspapers, and brought my journalism aspirations together to create a card completely different from anything I’ve seen before. Once it was approved, I incorporated some of those same elements into my résumé to ensure consistency and cohesion. With those pieces complete, I moved on to the next big task: my booth design.
The booth design required us to include interactive elements and personal objects that reflected our interests and hobbies. I carefully planned mine out, sketching a layout that included my favourite books as conversation starters, a poster board made of news articles to highlight my passion for journalism, and candy canes as a snack component to make my table more inviting. Once my plan was approved, I was ready for the final and most exciting step: the Winter Exhibition.
The exhibition this year was like no other I’ve experienced. I had people come up to me, interested in my booth and career aspirations, and listened as I shared the things I was passionate about. At the last moment, I grabbed some of my records and cd’s from home, to bring more of my personality into the booth, and they were a big hit. I met so many new people who helped guide me through parts of journalism I didn’t even know existed, solidifying my passion even more. I got to talk about one of my favourite things to new people and learn new things that can help benefit me and my future, and I was very grateful for this opportunity.
Throughout this project, I discovered many ways to present my passions, strengths, and learning to the world. My résumé was the first step—not just a list of experiences, but a visually engaging reflection of who I am. After multiple revisions, I created something I was truly proud of. Designing my business card was even more challenging, as my teachers pushed me to refine it until it truly represented me. After eight attempts, I finally got it right and even incorporated its design elements into my résumé to create a cohesive personal brand. My booth design allowed me to showcase my interests in a creative, interactive way, featuring my favourite books as conversation starters, a journalism-themed poster board, and candy canes to make my space inviting. Seeing everything come together made me realize that presenting myself to the world is more than just words on a page—it’s about creativity, refinement, and finding the best way to showcase who I am.