After TMU — Talia Ricci

1. How did your degree influence your career choice?

I'm pretty lucky that I knew I wanted to take journalism at Ryerson University and use my degree to work in journalism afterward. I had a clear path I was very sure of and for that I am grateful. The program really opened my eyes to the world of many different types of storytelling. I fell in love with Peter Bregg's photojournalism course and that inspired me to continue pursuing photography as a passion project. Lessons from my TV reporting courses with Gary Gould and Mark Bulgutch are still with me today. They taught us hands on skills that were useful in the industry but also journo life lessons like "don't be afraid to move around Canada and report in different places." I took their advice to heart and it truly was wise.

2. What are some skills you developed through university that are applicable to your career?

Aside from the ABC's of being a journalist I learned some valuable skills that transferred very well into the workplace. Teamwork was a big one. We had to complete assignments similar to what you would in a newsroom and learn how to navigate different types of personalities. TMU's program was perfect for me because it was a combination of academics and putting your hands on a camera and going out to actually learn how to be a journalist. We also used very similar software that real newsrooms use so when I had my first day as a reporter in the working world it was relieving to have some familiarity.

3. What do you wish you could tell your university self?

I wish I could've told my university self to slow down and enjoy the journey. This was something I eventually learned. We all have an end goal and for me that was telling stories in Toronto and hopefully one day abroad. In university I sometimes would put numbers on things - "I'll give myself one year in this city" or "by this age I want to have achieved this." It's great to set goals but the experiences in between build who you are and it's important to be present for the journey too. I would also tell my younger self to take a deep breath and not be so hard on yourself. It really doesn't matter what other people think, and people who tell you that you aren't good at what you do - prove them wrong!

4. How did your experience at TMU help you find your first position after graduation?

We were taught by people who worked in the industry and many of them personally gave us contacts to reach out to. They were also very willing to help us with demos, portfolios and resumes. They gave me excellent constructive feedback whenever I asked for it. In our last year when we did our internship I was hired from there. I wouldn't have been able to get my foot in the door without the program's help.

5. In your experience, what are some attributes of individuals who are most successful in your field?

Hard workers who are kind to others. I see journalists who genuinely care about people and learning and those are the ones who succeed and who I look up to most. I believe they succeed because at their core they are a storyteller, and you have to be compassionate and a little crazy to fill your brain with new people and experiences every single day. I think it's so important to be willing to pour part of your soul into this career and treat people with respect along the way.

6. If you could start all over again, would you change your career path in any way? Why?

I honestly wouldn't change much. I love to travel so maybe I would've done an exchange program if I could do it again but I am truly happy with the way everything has worked out so far. I've met amazing people, lived in different cities, cried in makeup rooms when people weren't being very nice or when I lost faith in myself, picked myself up again and fallen in love with a thousand people and their stories. I wouldn't have it any other way.