The Journey 'til Now

The worst interview question to ask a media professional (realistically, much like all marines are riflemen, all media professionals are writers) would be something as open-ended as "So tell me about yourself."

Not only is it a request more than a question, it's probably one we didn't prepare for.  Put a media professional on the spot like that, and brace your ears.  Ensue the ramble.  And since this blog is basically my journey toward success - personally, professionally, empiracally, culinarily... I ran out of words to make up - everything gets all tied up in a mess of "Life til now."

I was born while the Southeast was amidst a horror of hurricane Hugo... I'm kidding.  Not about being born during hurricane Hugo, that's true. But we can skip the "on a dark, stormy night" cliche.

Kindergarten Graduation.  I was ready for a career in media already.  Charming as hell!

I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communications (photography, graphic design, some videography) and a concentration in Military Media.  I aspired to be a military media professional, and accepted an internship at US Army Cadet Command in KY to get my foot in the door.  While I was there, the government began their most ferocious cut-back planning - minimizing civilian hires.

A couple of the Drill Sergeants who managed Cadets in my company at Fort Knox in KY. July 2011.

The next option was attempting to enlist as a media soldier to gain experience and veteran preference.  For over a year, I side-stepped the misleading information of a half dozen recruiters, braced myself for a variety of bumps and bruises along the way, and barred myself from distractions - including having a relationship.  I was focused on the finish line, even if it meant spending the entirety of my life single.  I always had better luck with dogs than with men anyway (what's the difference, right? Ha. Haha.) So when this pretty cute, quiet soldier said he'd like to drive over an hour to take me out to dinner, I said "ok."  It was a free meal.  I didn't get out much.  He seemed harmless, and quite frankly, I'd been unimpressed with him in the conversations we'd had over the previous month, so as far as I was concerned, there was no danger of getting distracted.

Date Night with Matt.  A requisite of mine to survive his command of an AIT company.  It's exhausting. April 2013.

Matt drove from Augusta to Columbia to take me out to dinner, meeting at 6:30pm the day before Independence Day in 2012.  For the next nine and a half hours, we talked, played pool, talked some more, walked around downtown Columbia, and started to unintentionally defy both of our goals to not get seriously involved with anyone.

Before we knew - getting ready for one of my best friend's wedding. Nov 2012.

Whoops.

Turns out this guy I was previously unimpressed with is basically the most amazing man on the planet.  As it also turns out, all those people saying "the second you meet The One, your whole world changes," actually had some sense of wisdom.  Go figure all that advice you rolled your eyes at when you were a teenager suddenly zaps you with a series of "Ah-ha"s when you become an "adult."

Anyway, you can read the rest of that story in my blog "My Mom Is Usually Right."

Command General's New Year's Reception. Jan 2014.

We got married in November of 2015 and began our Newlywed bliss by moving across the country to be closer to Matt's family, the first time he's lived within a couple hundred miles in over 12 years.

Through it all, my aspirations have changed a little.  I still want to eventually work for the military, helping tell the stories of soldiers, marines, and airmen who can't tell it themselves, and trying to bridge the gap of understanding between the civilian and military worlds.  But I've widened my range a bit. I've spent a lot of time devouring blogs and books on every variety of media available - marketing, social media, photography, journalism, advertising.  I launched my own small business, Heather Cortright Photography & Design, in the fall of 2013 and have developed it into a hobby, providing low-cost visual communication for low-budget weddings or small businesses.  I volunteer on post as much as I can, refueling my career goals with how much at home I feel amongst the uniformed.  I spend a lot of time cooking and researching healthy recipes, philosophizing about life, and - obviously - rambling to no one in particular.

Taking a swing at a 300mm at Fort Lewis-McChord, WA. July 2013.