When Your 19-year-old Dream Comes True

Let me tell you a little story.

I transferred to California State University, Chico my junior year of college. It was 2001, I was dead set on being the next bad ass journalist; the next big on-air news reporter. I was just getting into my actual major classes, and had entered my first "Mass Communications 101" class. It was in an auditorium of more than 200 people, all there trying to become exactly what I wanted to be. I remember walking in with the confidence of a titan, thinking I had a real talent for telling stories. I walked out realizing I was one of many in a sea of people, wanting to make it in an industry that was tough. I eventually established a great news writing career, but then married, had babies and stayed home.

Fast forward almost 18 years to today.

As a mom who writes about the nonsense that ensues while managing four boys, I am right back in that Mass Communications class, because the playing field for writers has changed. You no longer need a degree in English, Creative Writing or Journalism. Hell, you don't even need any kind of degree. You just need a computer, wifi, and followers to become the next bestselling author, or "influencer."

It's a completely different ball game, and like any career field, you need to change with the times.

On January 1st of this year, I woke up on vacation in Costa Rica, turned to my husband and said, "This year I'm going to write a book. I'm making this happen."

That's the kind of gumption I've always had, and my husband knowing that, just looked at me and said, "Awesome, can't wait to read it."

I don't have some massive audience, I just have stories, really funny, relatable stories that can make you laugh, cry and call your mom.

There's been this manifestation fire in my belly for months, and that young girl in that auditorium is back, proving she can write in an entirely different journalistic world.

Tonight, that girl is celebrating her work being featured on the Today Show's Facebook page, which reaches 6.6 million people. In 2001, that would be the equivalent of a front page story on a major newspaper or magazine.

I want to take this moment to thank everyone who has supported me along the way. You've shared my work and just been all around awesome people.

Tonight is truly one of those moments I will look back on decades from now as one of the highlights of my life, and I owe it all to the friends and family who have continuously supported me throughout it all.

xoxo,

CC*