"... Yea, so my job is pretty cool," the Road Test Editor for Jalopnik.com, Wes Siler, casually stated as he comfortably sat in the lounge chair of Park 220, crossing one of his chic brown leather shoes on the top of his other knee, while he swiftly ran his fingers through his California-boy hair.
Yea, he's a big deal, and he knows it.
After all, how many 27-year-olds can say that within a year of quitting a decent job, they co-founded a publication that is earning well over the amount of money that was put into it? The result: Hell For Leather Magazine - a successful niche publication for those that love fast motorcycles.
You want to hate him; envy him; mock him for being so successful. But, you can't because you find nothing but respect for him. He's worked hard, found something he knows so much about and created a niche publication for those that have the same interests as he does. I guess you could say that he's done everything right.
But as the students stared at Siler with amazed and confused eyes, I knew that they were thinking the same thing I was: How on Earth would we ever be able to become as successful as you are? One girl was brave enough to ask the question out loud. The response was refreshing and scary: Siler told us that if our teachers are telling us that print journalism is where the money is at, then "they're not doing their job".
Reality kicked in, and I began to wonder...How am I going to get a job?
Vanessa Schneider, a news assistant for the NYtimes.com, and an Ithaca College grad, gave us a bit of hope during her speech - explaining her success in finding a well-paying job with a renowned publication - while Siler gave us a dose of reality.
It's not often that you find the combination of the two, but it sounds like a recipe for success to me.
- - Jillian Rubin
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