Understanding the Message

 
"Someone once told me to write well, you have to write what you know." This is a quote from the movie Never Been Kissed, featuring Drew Barrymore. The film revolves around a shy copy editor, Josie Geller, working at the Chicago Sun Times who goes undercover at a local high school as a student.  Directed by Rasa Gosnell we are able to get a sense of the plot before it begins to unfold. By making the main character appear to be a meek female who remains in the background at first, however, later on at a work meeting she is chosen to be a reporter on an undercover assignment. This is a surprise and a flood of emotions are portrayed by the character, as she worries about going back to high school. Flashbacks are shown to let the audience know that she was never part of the ‘pretty and popular’. Upon starting school, we are able to see that not much has changed in the time that she graduated high school and present day. Josie is still considered a loser very much by her peers.  Despite being successful at her job, we are able to see how the effects of the teenagers at the school impact her self-esteem. As she continues to experience the lives of high schooler’s in current day, a more interesting story begins to unfold; falling for her teacher. As Josie’s colleagues at the Chicago Sun Times become infatuated with where the seemingly unrequited relationship is headed; due to the teacher having no idea she is of a legal age, they continue to watch the hidden camera video footage. Towards the end of the movie Josie blows her own cover in an effort to save the first real friend she made at the high school from humiliation.  The story (film) concludes with Josie receiving her first kiss, from the teacher, while several students and colleagues watch on. 

While watching this movie again as an adult, I was able to learn new lessons.  In the world of journalism, I learned that the story that is intended isn’t always the one that serves of interest. Additionally, I learned as a journalist it’s wise to carry a tape or voice recorder in order to make notes and to get quotes from individuals verbatim, so as to not make mistakes or misquote in your article. As the first line in this post says, “Someone once told me to write well, you have to write what you know,” and that is something that has stuck with me for several years. Writing what you know doesn’t only mean about what you know in that moment, it’s about what you learn and the knowledge you gain throughout your years. In learning to write better a person has to step out of their comfort zone in order to grow. If you are constantly only writing about what you know, it’s usually easy. Given the task to write about topics you aren’t as knowledgeable on allow for you to expand your mind to a plethora of compositional works. [1 image, 1 link, 1 quotation, 495 words]