Gilbert Said:

is this a good plan (please read)?

We Answered:

Yes, a good plan not based on "I want to be famous" alone.

Work hard, get plenty of experience, see if you can get stuff on local NPR or local TV stations, work for free and record any work.

If you want it bad enough you'll succeed.

Sherri Said:

is this a good plan (please read)?

We Answered:

The experience you already have at that local tv station specifically will greatly help you get internships, and should help you get your first job when you complete your bachelors degree. The "back of house" experience alone is invaluable. Do you really think you can get on-camera? If so, then keep volunteering there. That would be significant. Continue to volunteer at this or another local tv station once you reach the university.

Once you get to the university, work on their student run tv and radio stations, as well as their newspaper. Does your current college have a tv station, radio station, or similar? If so, then join up.

A good minor would be something heavy on writing, and/or which deals directly with the type of journalism you want to do. So if you wanted to cover, let's say, politics, a good minor might be political science. If you're unsure, then a good minor might be English or journalism, so you get the writing experience. But you mentioned PR, and that would be a good choice as well - it would act as a potential alternate path in case journalism doesn't work out for you, or in case you do it for a while and then decide to change careers. So if you can do PR as a minor, that'd be fine. I'd have no problem with that.

Megan Said:

Becoming a new teacher brings a hoard of questions...?

We Answered:

1. Wait until you get a job. Most school districts have their own policies, many are switching to electronic gradebooks & lesson plans. Either way they provide the software or the book.
2. You should have a rough plan laid out. Like what material you plan to cover each week or for the year. You'll need lesson plans in detail to satisfy the bureaucracy but most of the time you'll be changing them on a daily basis (fire drill, assembly etc.) Have a set for any sub to use that are easy to understand and follow. Have seating charts and lists of honest students who will help.
3. Yes.
4. When you feel the need, they aren't always needed.
5. Not really. Different schools use different technology. About 50% use Macs, another 50% use Windows. Some use white boards, overheads, video projectors etc. The school secretary will show you how to use the copier etc. Make friends with her the first day & the janitor the 2nd. Doughnuts help.
6. Each school has their own policy. If you send a kid into the hallway, he/she may not come back. And you are responsible for the behavior out there, it can be a dangerous situation. Go with detentions and start out tough and ease up as the months go by. Only send someone to the office if it is a dangerous situation (drunk, on drugs etc.)
7. It will help you. Introduce yourself to the kids the first day, make sure they realize your expectations.

(retired school teacher)