by Paloma Mena
If you told me a year ago that I’d be going live on-air at a radio station where there are potentially thousands of people listening, I would’ve never believed you. But here I am, about to finish my first semester at college, excited to jump at any chance to speak into the mic. But it didn’t start out like this.
Picture this: it’s my first week of college, ever. I’m nervous, exhilarated, overwhelmed, lonely, and everything in between. In this moment, I’m on a mission. I’d seen this house on campus with a sign in front reading “Oliver Hall.” I had no clue that it was a radio station until I took a closer look, and then I had one of those rare moments where my gut was telling me what I needed to do. I knew I had to get involved in any way I could, so I began asking around, hoping someone would be able to help.
Since it was my first week, my pool of people to ask was limited to fellow clueless freshmen. I knew I couldn’t give up, though. Out of nowhere, as I was walking into the library, I looked at the bulletin board where a poster with bold lettering read, “WE WANT YOU!” It was WONC, the campus radio station, beckoning me. It was a sign, literally. And figuratively. For me, this represented a whole new world of opportunities, open doors that would present themselves if I went searching for them. The poster for the station described how to join, and so I did.
In the beginning, going on air was just as terrifying as it sounds. In the moments before I’d go live, my heart rate went up and my palms started to sweat. When I would speak, I’d notice every little mistake I’d make, like an “umm…” or an awkward transition to the next topic. Things like this made me want to quit. However, I knew I couldn’t let myself give up that easily. Slowly but surely, I became more confident. I began targeting areas where I could improve and listened back to recordings of myself. I listened to criticism from my peers and took the time to plan out how to get better. After every shift where I got to DJ, I felt happy. This furthered my passion for being at WONC. When I heard that the station’s music department was looking for an assistant, I decided to apply for the position. Thankfully, I got the job, and now I get to help choose the new music that goes on air.
Getting to combine my love for rock music with my passion for learning new things is what makes me so grateful I get to do what I do. Every week, I try to get better and better, whether that means I try something new or listen to advice from those around me. Without a doubt, one of the best parts about being involved with WONC is the friendships I’ve made. The people I’ve met are wonderful and as quirky as you would expect radio station personalities to be. One of my best friends, who I met through WONC, and I got to go to a rock concert together because the opportunity at the station arose. Overall, I hope that whoever is reading this is reminded to do the things that scare you. Getting out of your comfort zone is essential for growth, and who knows, you might just end up loving what you do.
