Sunday night dinner at a fancy restaurant set the tone for the rest of the week and something I’ll remember for the rest of my career: If you want the finer things, you’re going to have to work hard for it.

This week has been a challenge for me. Not only did I test my strengths and areas I could improve on, but I also tested my passion for journalism.

I came into this program as a full-on strategic communications “PR girl.” I knew I could tell a good story but unfortunately, they were one-sided. Journalism requires getting the full story along with additional research, and that is something I quickly learned.

We all had to recite our pitch to our editor on our first day. I went up to pitch, and I listed some “alternative facts.” I learned that if you don’t do the research, you can’t officially say it.

Another thing I took from the program is pushing myself to work faster. Ongoing deadlines applied pressure that I’m normally not used to. It was good for me.

Working with a mentor in the industry was extremely satisfying. I learned a lot about the field and information I will be able to use as a young professional.

As I complete my final years as a college student, I plan to incorporate the skills I learned into everything I do.