BBC Meet and Greet Staff Session

At the beginning of January, I was met with the opportunity to take part in work experience at BBC Radio 5live, as a member of the meet and greet staff. I, among other journalism students at Salford University, received an email about this opportunity and after much frantic deliberation about whether I'd be good enough, I just thought, you know what - I have absolutely nothing to lose!

So I went away and began writing a 200 word response on what I think I could potentially bring to BBC Radio 5live and a few snippets about what I've done in the past - work experience related and tried to show my personality in the most succint, but best way that I could. Then the next stop, was to attach my CV and application and BOOM! hit the send button...

After I did that, I sat and swivelled around in my chair, starting at the screen, wondering who would receive that email, what they would think and of course, if I could be good enough for the opportunity.

I've got to admit, although I virtually forgot about the opportunity, now and again, especially at night when I tend to lay there and kill myself with opportunities I haven't yet taken part in (which I'm sure you'll either totally relate to or think I'm a mad woman), the thought that I could potentially get the opportunity would always be tiptoeing around in my mind.

When I received the email that said 10 students had been shortlisted from Salford University, (this was across a national platform and many universities put their students forward), and I was one of them, the only feeling I can describe it as is shock, excitement and a little anxiety, anticipating the unknown...

I believe I can write well, I'm a generally confident and bubbly person and I do work hard for where I want to be, but in the wacky, worldwind of journalism work experience opportunities and placements, where competition is at an all-time high, boiling to the brim with bubbly and creative individuals, I genuienly believed I didn't stand a chance.

Although I didn't actually get the opportunity to go down to the BBC for the session, after not being shortlisted to the second round, the fact that I was shortlisted in the first place out of many that applied, was enough to prove to me that I can get myself noticed and heard, no matter how hard it seems to be able to do that today.

If anything, being knocked back from an opportunity like this has only made me more determined to succeed, and has made me a stronger individual.

So if you ever feel disheartened by knock backs and rejections, just remember, it happens to us all and you're not the only one. Yes, journalism is a competitive industry, but it's also full of determined, hard-working individuals who have done a hell of a lot to be where they are today, including experiencing their fair share of knock backs, which I find incredibly inspiring.

Knowing this, keeps my ambition to work in the media alive and hopefully, one day, I will get there.