“Tell your partner something that you liked about the Media in the past 4-5 years, and on the other hand, something you didn’t like, and then you will each introduce the other to the group” – its a simple task to turn to someone you don’t know and tell them a like and dislike about something that occurred in the media relatively recently, so why did I dribble out so many um’s and ah’s before I could come up with a definitive answer. My mind was exploding with thoughts, how general should it be? Should I bring up issues that my partner may be on the other side of the current debate? Would I get an eye roll and make a bad first impression if I brought up the fact that I do ‘[keep] up with the Kardashians’ or that I’ve been to a One Direction concert?

However after some simple introduction I found that I was not being judged in the environment of that workshop classroom. I shared my thoughts and views on subjects which I felt passionate about without stuttering. I was nervous that somehow I wouldn’t fit in but I had nothing to worry about. I’m not declaring that I ‘fit in’ (whatever that means…), just that no one was unwelcome to speak their mind and I could not have left that room more bubbly than I did.