Maybe that's why I have so many of them...
But before I set down my soapbox, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Melissa Pileiro, and I'm a senior journalism major at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. I specialize in online and print journalism.
Deciding to major in journalism after graduating from Vineland High School in 2007 was a bit of a leap of faith, honestly. My interest in writing actually began with fiction, but I knew that making a living in that way would be difficult. But I knew that I could write, and even if I wasn't very interested in news at the time, I figured it would be a good start.
I went to Cumberland County College, where the program is entirely hands-on. We learned journalism by doing it, and it was in that environment that I discovered my love for feature writing. I'm an extrovert and love it when people tell me their stories. Writing about those stories was almost second nature to me right from the start.
The summer of my first year was spent at The Grapevine, a weekly newspaper in my hometown. They had just launched a year before, and the small staff gave me a chance to hone my profiling skills. It was there that I realized I had made the right career choice, and since then, I've not looked back once.
In my last year at CCC, I was editor-in-chief of The Voice, the college paper. It was a lot of work, but it really shaped the reporter I am today. I think I'm a lot more dedicated and driven than I would have been otherwise, because I know how much editors appreciate a writer they don't need to hover over. Around the same time, I discovered copy editing...and with my scarily obsessive love for purple ink and fixing bad grammar, it was a perfect fit. ;)
I'm now the copy editor of The Whit, Rowan's newspaper. I love being able to satiate my "itch to fix" instead of my complaints falling on deaf ears. My first love, however, will always be writing features. This summer, I worked as a features intern for The Daily Journal in Vineland, and walked out of the experience with 17 bylines and a freelance position. Getting to copy edit on the side is a big plus, too!
In my spare time, I'm an avid fantasy reader, piano player, and social media addict. I'm also passionately Catholic, and so grateful for the opportunities God has provided for me. I spend much of my time at the Newman House just off campus, home to Rowan's Catholic Campus Ministry. They're my second family.
That's me, in a nutshell. Thanks for joining me. I hope you come along for the ride.
