THANK YOU

The past few weeks have been SO encouraging. I came out here and no lie...STRUGGLED. It was tough knowing NO ONE, living in the hood in a room w/ a bullet hole, and not having a job. I think my best friends and family heard more tears than anything. I heard, "just come home" ALOT. But I pushed through even though a lot of the time felt like I was failing. It was rough. But the last few weeks has given me so much confidence not only in myself but other people.

When I decided to move out here, I know most people thought I had lost my mind. I was moving with absolutely nothing and somewhat of a plan. I had a lot of people rooting against me...but so many rooting for me. Looking back, it was insane. But I had a dream. And since I was little, "follow your dreams" and "don't live with regrets" has ALWAYS been drilled in my head. My mom has always said I should take risks, go for MY goals, and the worst that will happen is i learned something

So of course now, I'm loving life. I have a killer opportunity with GMA, friends, an amazing roomie, an LA family, a church community, and confidence. I'm not the same girl that moved out here 7 months ago. But that's not the point of this post. I've heard so many encouraging comments in the last few weeks. Erin Andrews from ESPN said, "I'm impressed by you. To be 22, you have your shit together" FYI i don't...but if it comes off that way...GRRReat! Then, my favorite producer told me that he wants to help me out as much as possible b/c I'm always wanting to learn...do most ppl not? And yesterday, another producer who is leaving...told me that he was impressed by me. He told me I'm fearless, eager, and so hardworking. He told me that he wants to take me with him to his next job. That's such a honor. I was speechless.

When I look at myself, I see Jenna. A girl with a dream from Atlanta...who works b/c I want to. They things I do are not because i'm trying to show off, it's to reach my goal. bc i know the ONLY thing standing in my way is myself. I don't see myself as impressive. I am just living the life I want to live and SO blessed to have amazing people along the way.

I guess I jsut want to say...follow YOUR heart. Follow YOUR dreams. No matter how often people tell you no or what are you doing. GO FOR IT! The only thing that will ever stand in your way is YOURSELF. It's not an easy road...we will always have highs and lows. We will sometimes stop and ask ourselves...what the hell am i doing? There will be a giant mountain that we will have to climb. There will be times when we feel that we can't do it. But the thing that we must remember is that we are not alone. Our lives are not meant to glorify ourselves, it's to glorify God. We are put on this Earth for a reason. Some of us will go on the be accomplished professionals. Others are meant to be amazing mothers and fathers who will guide children on their paths. and Some of us are meant to travel the world/country making a difference in peoples lives. We are all meant to do different things. We are all going to mess up. But at the end of the day, it will not be our accomplishments that matter...it's the relationship with Him.

Sorry I am rambling, but I just want to say...LIVE YOUR DREAM. Go for it. Take risks...b/c the most successful people didn't sit and back and let it happen. I just thank you. Thank you for pushing me to continue, even when i don't feel up to it! We all need to live our lives in our own ways!! I'm still going hard after my dream. I will work in this industry...watch out Erin Andrews...watch out Oprah...I will have your job one day?!?!!!!!

WAIT....is this REAL life?!

What a CRAZY month! In the last month...i've gone on a "weekend drive w/ JEFF BRIDGES!" (yes, the actor). Interviewed KAthryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Lee Daniels, Quentin Tarentino, and Jason Reitman at the Director Guild of America Awards. Worked on shoots with Cameron Mathison (so SEXY) and Melissa Rycroft (The Bachelor reject...AMAZING girl!!) Talked with Oscar winning Dame Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer (Mr. Von Trapp from SOund of Music). Approached Rider Strong (Shawn from Boy Meets World) in a bar. Then...there's MC DREAMY and the BIGGEST AWARDS SHOW!!

So, last week, I decided to go to the commissary. It's a daily thing for me. I get a salad, take it back to my desk and EAT! But this day was different, I got a sandwich. So, here I am standing waiting for my food, when I here..."Georgia Bulldogs." I look at debit card, the Georgia G...and turn around, expecting a camera guy or something. But NO!!! iIt's MC DREAMY, PATRICK DEMPSEY HIMSELF!! I work on the same lot as Grey's Anatomy, so it's not surprising to see them running around. I just laughed and said, "yea!" HE then asked me questions like are you from GA? and What are you doing out here? To that I respond, "Yep, born and raised!" and "trying to work in the entertainment TV industry." He continued with "well, good for you b/c no many Georgians are out this way." I was SHOCKED he was talking to me!!! We ended up both getting our food and sitting at tables RIGHT NEXT to each other. WE casually talked until his friend came....BUT LET ME TELL U...HE IS BEAUTIFUL...NOT DISAPPOINTING!!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!

                                      ^Photos from one of the drivers*
THEN....THERE'S THE OSCARS!!! In early february, I got the honor to be invited to the OScar nominations. I worked early morning to make sure the Nominations made air. I worked w/ a PRoducer, Nancy, and learned SOOO much! It was so cool to be there! But this last week got even cooler!                
A bunch of GMA NY producers came in to film the show. i ran around all week w/ my OSCAR credential helping set up thee red carpet stuff, doing walk thrus of the morning show, pretty much doing ANYTHING and EVERYTHING! I felt so cool to flash my yellow badge. I worked right along side GMA co host's ..Sam Champion...producer, DArcy. SO i was with Sam and Darcy ALL week long! What a cool experience. I helped shoot segments  and OOO so much more! I met Robyn Roberts, another GMA cohost...who i ADMIRE so much...and yes me...made a fool out of myself...shocking right. I was in the credential trailer when i saw her...so i bluntly said, hi yall are w/ GMA right? then i said i know who you are...Robyn just looked at me. Sometimes it's like REALLY Jenna?! REALLY!?!?!

It was amazing to GMA's live show at the Governor's Ball on Friday and today at the LA Theater...they are so wonderful. BUt OScars were last night. I watched as stars walked the red carpet and helped Darcy produce her party piece, which was an AMAZING experience!!! It's what I want to do, so it an HONOR to be the wing man for that!! I literally decided some shots to place w/in the piece and helped be as organized as possible...which meant staying up for 27 HRS! Yep...NO SLEEP FROM 6 AM Sunday to 9 AM TODAY! AWESOME!!! BUt SOOOO WORTH IT! The editor and I pretty much put the piece together for NATIONAL TV...that's soooo crazy!!!! I can now say, yep I worked the Oscars. Yep.

Another cool thing...y'all remember Chris Connelly from MTV? He did all the documentaries and news back in the days of TRL. Well, now he's on GMA and ABC and let me tell u...probably the COOLEST man! He's so awesome. I've worked on a few shoots w/ him now and today he walked up to me and was like "hey Jenna Harrison." I mean that's crazy b/c lets be honest, most correspondents do NOT care to really know who i am. But we talked and cut up. Talked all about ATLANTA...i was wearing a UGA sweatshirt...which is a BIG talking to pt...FYI! BUt he's so cool. So real. It makes you realize there are some AWESOME ppl in this industry who aren't stuck up and willing to get to know even the littlest ppl. It's great...so yea, we're like BFFs now. ha! it's just cool b/c i grea up watching these people. DREAMING of their jobs. And now, I'm here working wtih them. It's WOW!

The last few weeks have been interesting in the bureau...pretty much the WHOLE bureau will be laid off in the next few months for me...that's the bad news, the good news...i KNOW im in the right stop. I don't get star struck...i want to do the job and do it right. Plus staying up 27 hrs is ok in my eyes. I'm doing what I LOVE! I can't imagine NOT working in the entertainment industry. I know God will continue to lead my life in ways I can't imagine!