Go ahead, call me stupid

I know we're only two weeks into the semester. Don't worry, I get that. I know I still have nine months until graduation. Yeah, I get that. But more and more everyday I begin to realize what's really important to me in my life. What I want. What I want more than a high market, a big salary, and my face on a bus. I want to be happy.

It sounds ridiculous. You've heard it plenty of times before. I know. But, really. Regardless of how you spin it, graduation is nine months away. And right now, I think it's fair to say most upcoming grads can at least say they're going to work in St. Louis, Minneapolis, or wherever they choose. The reality is I can't. I don't know what will be open, who will be hiring, and heck, who will want me.

What I've figured out the past few months, weeks, days, minutes, let's be honest, seconds, is that I have to do what's going to make me happy. At the end of the day, that's not going to be the size of the market. I want to be in a situation where I can learn, a place that has good journalism, one with good people. I want a city where I can meet young people, where I can be near my family, a place that'll welcome me with open arms.

Journalism's a scary, scary world. I want a family, I want to be a good dad, I want to be a good person. If that works with journalism, great. I'm in.....

Journey to the Real World

It was a week that started with my last first day of school. A week that included my 21st birthday celebration. A week that signaled the beginning of the end of yet another chapter in this game we call life.

From the time I've been young, I've always been told "you only get one shot, Alex." Well, Thursday night (birthday night), I was told by several friends, "You get 21 shots." I didn't like that.

I'm good with one. Thanks. Now, let me see what I can do with it.

Four years ago I sat in the comfort of my living room in Northern Minnesota when I told my parents, "I'm goin to the University of Missouri."

Keep in mind, I had never been to Missouri before, I didn't know a single person from Missouri and no one from my high school had ever gone or heard of this place called "Mizzou."

Turns out, it was the best decision of my life. I'm not kidding.

Join me on this journey through senior year. I know a lot, but let's be honest, I have a lot to learn.

Story Complete!

You may have wondered where I went. Don't worry I was probably just in front of a computer editing my second round assignment!

I am could not be more happy to tell you that after many hours of hard work, I have completed my second round story on the P.E.T. Project.

Over the next few weeks people all across the world will have the chance to help me out, and much like everything else involving this project, without you, I won't have a shot.

I have posted my story below, so please check it out and give me feedback.

YouTube will open voting April 5th (tomorrow), and it will conclude April 18th. Once I have more information on how you can vote, I will be sure to let you know.

Thanks all, and Happy Easter!

Alex

One Week Countdown!

As America looks ahead to the Easter weekend, I do too. However, I am a little stressed, let's be honest. But, it's a good stress. I am so fortunate to be in the situation that I am, but right now it is a lot of work. We're one week away from my submission being due, and until that time, I will be using every day to make it as strong as possible.

Just hours after appearing on "KOMU Cares For Your Community" I started receiving feedback from Mid-Missourians on who they want me to talk to for round 2, and how they hope I will go about telling my story. KOMU also posts this segment on its website, so I had the chance for viewers on a national level to see it if they logged on.

I am doing everything I can to incorporate their input into my piece, and I am confident that by Tuesday I will have a complete script. I really am satisfied with how things have gone to this point, but am well aware that I could not do it without the great help I have received. I want to sincerely thank all who have contributed to this project.

NBC Visit

Hi, folks! I hope your week is going well. Just wanted to give you a little update on where I am at with round two of Project: Report. This morning I had the chance to share my first round story with Mid-Missouri's NBC affiliate, KOMU-TV. I spoke with Lauren Whitney, the morning anchor, and we talked about how I decided to focus on Amanda McDaniel and what I now plan to do for the second round.

I have spent the last few days working countless hours trying to piece together my second round story. I have a lot of material and have received great feedback from readers, facebook friends and twitter followers. This project has provided with a great opportunity to speak with a number of people from all across the world.

I look forward to incorporating more of your input in the coming weeks. If you want to contact me, I have a facebook group, my twitter account is @alexreports, or you can reach me via e-mail at alexmrozier@gmail.com.

Project: Report Update

Most people don’t realize that everyday more than 20 million are crawling on their hands and their knees because they have no other choice.

Mothers are forced to carry their children for years, while others just do whatever it takes to get around. We don’t see that in the United States. We have wheelchairs. We find ways to mobilize our people.

That’s not the case in many countries worldwide. They don’t have the resources we have been so blessed with. I am passionate about finding a way to fix this.

Mel West started the P.E.T. project in 1995 hoping to find a way to provide everyone with a gift of mobility. Today, 15 years later, PETs are in more than 80 countries worldwide helping to give hope to those who need it most. People need to know about this problem. Just because we don’t see it everyday, doesn’t mean it does not exist.

More than 20 million people are effectively immobile worldwide. (photo by Scott Schaefer)

What do you want to know about the world mobility program? What sources should I be looking to for help? The direction of this project lies largely in your hands. Let’s get started.

Welcome!

Hi everyone! Thanks for checking out my blog.

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Alex Rozier, a broadcast journalism major at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

In recent weeks I have been named a semi-finalist for YouTube's Project: Report in connection with the Pulitzer Center and Sony. Project: Report is an effort to encourage aspiring journalists to tell the untold stories in America.

In the first round I had the great honor of sharing the story of Amanda McDaniel. Amanda is an 18-year-old from Columbia, Missouri who has been fighting a courageous four-year battle with childhood bone cancer. I am thrilled the committee enjoyed the piece and provided me with the opportunity to advance.



Over the next few weeks I will be asking for your input as I work on my second round assignment. For this round the semi-finalists are to document an issue we feel is undercovered or inaccurately portrayed by the national media. I've decided to raise awareness about the world mobility problem.

It is estimated that there are more than 20 million people who are immobile worldwide. For people in poor countries, wheelchairs can't be used because they are unable to navigate through jungles, rocky areas, or dirt roads. This problem is one many people know very little about.

Thanks to the work of volunteers across the United States, devices are being made to help mobilize these individuals.

How do you feel I can best tell this story? What new media tools would you use to solicit input from others? Do you know any individuals I need to talk to about this issue? These are just a few of the questions I would like help with. Frankly, anything you can offer, I would appreciate.

This is a journey that is so close from being over, but so far from being done. To make this the best story possible, I need you. If you would like to learn about my focus on how one organization is trying to help with the challenge of mobility around the world. There are so many people who are unable to go short distances without the help of a friend or a family member. The PET Project is helping change that. You can read more about my focus on my PET Project page.

Thanks in advance.

-Alex
(You can also keep up with me on Facebook and Twitter)