By Christina Ulaj
A girl’s dream has finally become reality; her hard work has certainly paid off and all of her goals seem closer than ever. Christina Ulaj has finally arrived.
As the newest reporter for The Clarkston News, I would like to introduce myself to this wonderful community by telling everyone my story. It is a story of aspiration, passion and accomplishments.
Born Nov. 21, 1980 to Palo and Dragica Ulaj, it was obvious that I was a busy body from the start. Sociable, enthusiastic and always providing the family with entertainment was my thing; however, as the second youngest of six siblings, being heard was not always easy. So when all eyes were on me, I did not hesitate.
I have always been driven, which is the one characteristic I am most proud to hold. It has taken me places that seemed unreachable. I am the first of my family to go to college, and with that brought a lot of recognition from everyone around me.
How it all began:
I started my journey at Spec’s Howard School of Broadcast Arts, and completed a certificate in Television Communications. I then went on to Oakland Community College where I received my associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. Both institutions gave me a firm understanding of media, paving the way to Madonna University, where I was able to convert my passion to print.
Everyday spent at Madonna brought me one step closer to my dream. The skills I learned are priceless and my hard work and drive led me to achieve my bachelor’s.
However, school alone cannot prepare a person for the real world. That involves going out there and taking experiences as they come. My experience began with internships at Fox 2 News Detroit. It was there I started out an intimidated student, and there where I learned techniques and skills from some of the most amazing and knowledgeable people ? skills and techniques that made me more confident and focused in everything I do.
The Madonna Herald trained me with all the importance of newsgathering and opened my eyes to print journalism. It was saturated with excitement, deadlines and hard work. Writing for the university paper helped fine tune my skills and I immediately set all my focus on it. And here I am today.
Today, I am pleased to announce that I am a part of a great team at The Clarkston News. This is my most exhilarating moment to date. I have worked hard and, like many things, have experienced highs and lows. Appreciation is the only word that comes close to how I feel toward The Clarkston News and Sherman Publications.
There is nothing more rewarding than to see my hard work and thoughts down on paper, and even more rewarding, is becoming a significant member of the Clarkston community.
I was always taught that you get out of life what you put into it. My name is Christina Ulaj and I will put my all toward achieving honest journalism, credible articles and looking forward to building wonderful relationships.