Thank you, Mysterious Instructor

   I like how it was a mysterious "instructor" on the Our Lady of Lourdes writer's craft blog. Hmm, who is this secret reader? They are also my only reader! Well mystery fan, you have been such a dedicated reader to the Think Tank! Shout out to your devotion. Here at Think Tank headquarters we'll send you a gift basket in appreciation.
 
   At first I feared my blogs were far to informal for the questions being asked, but I then saw the positive in my ramblings (apparently so did the instructor). I really did enjoy having this blog to write honestly on the well-picked topics. It pushed me to have a writing style of my own for the first time. My absolute favorite writing was the character sketches, I thought I could be the most creative with them. It was interesting to see that my words could come out almost poetic when I wasn't trying to write poetry. So proud.

  The course was never enclosed in it's classroom walls, and that was absolutely awesome. The involvement the instructor keeps with Guelph's writing community is to be applauded. I had never been part of a poetry slam before. I had never met an editor before. It felt like I was in a writing headquarters where all these interesting Guelph locals stopped in to say hello. Please don't ever take that idea away and disconnect the writers craft class from the outside world; it always kept things in perspective. I honestly do not see anything that needs to be removed from the course or from how it's operated. The instructor is a master at what she does; do not stop a single thing.

   If I hadn't been in this course, I'm not sure if I still would have been alright for applying for journalism school. I wouldn't have had such a nice portfolio, I would probably still be misplacing my commas in dialogue, and I definitely would still be confused about what journalism can be in the future. This course saved me from a lot of stress, and I am deeply grateful.

   So mysterious instructor, you and your course have done a lot for me. More importantly, I enjoyed this course. I hope for creativity to never disappear in my life, and this course strengthened that belief like never before. Thank you mysterious instructor Mrs.Reidel, I hope you understand the difference you are making in the writers of tomorrow.

An Unshakable Mask

   If I was a newspaper editor, I would have a fine line with a lying journalist. It's just not going to happen. If it was a small misquote or a mistake that was clearly innocent, I could be forgiving. It would be a firm warning that my paper is honest and that I don't want to see this kind of tempering with the truth. It's strict, it's humane, and hopefully it would keep a fabulous reputation for our paper.

   Stephen Glass, however, makes me sick. My forgiveness ends far before an employee knows they have slipped miles from the truth and are now stressing to cover up their tracks. Stephen Glass' lying is insulting!

   Below I have included his interview with CNN in 2003. If you want to see how easily it is for Glass to ignore any emotion for what he did, watch the video. It is cringe worthy. Every time he goes to explain the process of his lies, it is as if he is reporting on his own actions. I do not see any emotion of regret or sorry for what he did. In fact, two minutes into the interview he decides to promote his new book on why journalists lie. Really? The guy is now earning money off a movie and book on the lies he gave to all of us without hesitation. In the interview, it constantly feels like he wants to turn on his former self like it's a different person, analyzing a man that is a complete mystery to the "now perfect" Stephen Glass. He still wears a mask. I fear he may never take it off. The true face of Stephen Glass smiles devilishly behind that mask as he earns money on the media of his own giant lies. A con artist is looking like a better way to describe this pathological liar. I hope his book tanked.