The Essay that got Me into Georgetown University's Journalism Master's Program

Past Experiences for a Fresh Start

This essay was written on July 9, 2020.

            For as long as I can remember, I have always imagined myself on a television screen. Initially, I wanted to be an actress, but as time went by, I began to realize that the people in front of the camera that make a real impact on society are those who work for the fourth estate (a.k.a. Journalists). I realized the power of journalism following the death of Walter Scott back in 2015. It was a profoundly powerful moment of clarity for me because without the media releasing the footage of an unarmed black man fleeing, and subsequently being murdered, Michael Slager, the officer who murdered Scott, would not have been handed a 20-year sentence. I knew that I wanted to create a future for myself that would include helping people by giving a voice to the unheard using the television platform. I am a strong candidate for this program because I am dependable, a hard worker, and I thrive under pressure. This essay will discuss some of my more vulnerable moments that shaped me into who I am today and why I am a strong candidate for admission into the Master’s of Journalism program as well as my goals if I am accepted into Georgetown University.

            I believe the first reason I am a strong candidate for this program is because I am dependable. I have always been this way. My dependability is what got me through my undergraduate years at Old Dominion University. I knew that in my family I had people counting on me to graduate because my upbringing was not conducive to success. I also depended on myself because I knew I had to prove those who said I would not graduate wrong. My mother never finished her college education though she has tried for many, many years. She was never afforded the opportunity to complete her degree because she had no money and my father, her then husband, made too much money for her to receive financial aid. My father refused to help pay for her education, and as a family of young children with no real familial support, my mother could not get a job to fund her own education because that would require leaving the children alone. My father was either always traveling for work. When he was home, he would physically, emotionally, and verbally abuse my mother often for the slightest ‘infractions’. When she finally left him, she only had herself, and her children and no money. I knew I could not let my mother down so I had no choice but to be dependable. No matter what unfortunate circumstances were going on in my life, especially facing chronic homelessness, I always managed to make deadlines or be there for others when needed without excuses. I believe in being dependable and working hard to earn a good reputation for oneself.

            Unlike many of my friends throughout my time during undergrad, I always kept a job. Sometimes up to three at the same time. I sacrificed building and cultivating with many of my peers simply because I lacked time between school and work. I had to work because my working meant that my mother could keep a roof over our heads and I could continue my education without interruptions. I would go to school in the mornings and work a closing shift, or work between classes when I had a tour guide job on campus. Because I always kept multiple jobs, up until my most recent job at Apple, I had to prioritize and manage my time with exceptional precision. Out of all of my jobs, any of my supervisors and managers can attest that I had a stellar work performance. Some employers did not realize that I was even in school unless I changed my availability. Even in the summer, I did not take breaks because I did not want to break my momentum and lose motivation to return to school. No matter how many assignments I had due combined with a full work schedule, I always completed my assignments on time, and sometimes earlier than their due date because my best work comes when I am under pressure.

            Journalists oftentimes have to meet strict deadlines under a myriad of circumstances. The ability to adapt to and excel under the pressure is an essential part of the job. During one of my finals week following my sophomore year, my father wanted my sister and I to leave his house. He gave us three weeks to get out, during that time, I had a full work schedule and it was finals week during our move out date. His behavior in the last few weeks before we moved out was erratic, so my sister and I anticipated that he would want us out. Despite all of the trials I experienced during that difficult semester, I finished strong and passed all of my classes with A’s and B’s. Every year after my freshman year in high school (I went to four high schools), I dealt with periods of homelessness. My goal is to attain further knowledge and real world experience in the field of journalism.

            In high school, one of my first jobs was working for a television station called WFMJ-TV in the impoverished city of Youngstown, Ohio as an intern. During that internship, I became more familiar with how news stations are run. I even conducted some interviews myself while in high school. I had the opportunity to interview a Holocaust survivor named Irving Roth in front of my high school peers. However, it was not until I was awarded an internship at WAVY-TV 10 in Portsmouth, Virginia, did I fall even deeper in love with the idea of being a journalist and working for a television station for the rest of my life. My past will not be used to make excuses. I want to use my past to become an inspiration and a leader. Through enrolling in the Master’s Program for Journalism at Georgetown University, I want to change the world with my platform as a journalist.

Shelby Johnson (center) posing with her parents David and Michelle Highsmith on graduation day in May 2022.