Ben and Jerry's and Jerry Garcia

It sure seems easy dreaming about a really cool job to have. I mean of course being a Ben and Jerry’s taste-tester is ideal, but when it comes down to the brass tact’s of life, eating ice cream flavors all day isn’t one of the most prestigious careers to have. Surely to God eating ice cream and getting fat from it has no benefit to anyone (except my stomach). And so it seems I’m stuck trying to figure out what in the world I want to be when I grow up.

Professional Shopper sounds legit! …Right?

So I guess I’m going to settle for the next best thing. And that’s to become a broadcast journalist of some sort. And really, that’s not settling. That’s a pretty rad job according to Tanna Orgeron, assistant Professor of Communication Arts at the University of the Cumberlands, who says, “getting the job you desire in broadcasting can be one of the most creative jobs you will ever have. You have the power of your audience's emotions at your fingertips and that's a powerful tool." After all, I am studying broadcast journalism here at UK. (They didn’t have a professional taste- tester/shopper degree.) Narrowing down the “broadcast journalist of some sort”, I would chose music entertainment journalism. Writing and analyzing music is what makes me happy and happiness is what makes my world go ‘round. Andrew Johnson, Marketing and Game Operations Intern for the Minnesota Wild, says the key to achieving your dream job is “finding something that makes you happy. Life is short and if it makes you happy, do it.”

Music is a passion of mine, whether I’m singing or jamming to some Dave Matthews as I stroll around UK’s campus in my little hippie Volvo. Plus, all my childhood memories seem to have music playing in the background. Yeah, kind of like in the movies when you see the old man reflecting on his youth and then…BAM! That melancholy nostalgic music erupts from the movie speakers and caresses your ear buds. EXCEPT A.) I’m not an old man reflecting on my life and B.) The music I hear in the memories is actual music that was playing because dad couldn’t stand a night without Jerry Garcia’s sweet guitar licks dancing among us.

Dreams can spark from something instilled in you when you were a little chap rocking jellies or perhaps an article you read in a newspaper that got your wheels turning. Grant Doepel, UCTV-19’s student manager at the University of the Cumberlands, is building his resume to achieve his childhood dream of becoming a play-by-play announcer for the Cincinnati Reds. “Dreams are possible.”

Whether it’s the melody in a song, or the speech of a president, realizing your dream job and even your potential in life is all about finding intrigue and inspiration in something that makes you happy. After all, it’s happiness that makes the world go ‘round, and if Ben and Jerry’s is that for you, then go eat some.