Q: You gotta walk before you can run, you know? Spend a couple of months dedicated to finding the best internship possible preferably one that's paying. The bigger and better the reputation of the company, the further you'll start ahead when you're looking for a full-time, salaried gig. Most companies go on to hire from their intern pool. If you can't get a full-time paying gig initially, consider an internship to get your foot in the door. A great way to build up your portfolio and to get your fingers into a lot of pies is to do freelance writing. There are hundreds of websites out there that are constantly looking for good material. Why shouldn't it be from you? You will have to pitch ideas to various editors; they won't be handed to you. Find out the name of the editor of the department you want to work for, and shoot them an email. Link them to some of you work and give them a full-fledged picture of what you want to write. If the bait is good, they'll bite. And that's money in your pocket and possibly a byline for your name. Being a reporter anymore does not mean just writing. It means having a website, designing your blog, making videos, and being present on online. You're not just a writer, you're your own brand. This is you making yourself a full-fledged force in the journalism community. It seems silly, but put effort into getting a following on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and all those other trendy websites that show the world how popular you are. The wider your digital presence, the more you will be taken seriously. To round out your skillset, it's a good idea to do a bit of everything. It's not detracting from the job you want, it's ensuring you'll get it and keep it later. If an opportunity arises that involves photo, video, copy editing, marketing, or broadcasting, go for it. You're just making yourself more valuable to the organization you're working for now and any organization you'll work for in the future. At certain jobs, this will be requested of you. Many journalists find themselves in one department and end up helping out their coworkers in others. You could get asked to do a radio interview, fill in for a TV broadcaster, or edit some footage for a friend who's running behind. They're great opportunities to improve your skills. Now's the moment: you're officially a tried-and-true reporter. Even if it's for a town of 3,000 people, you're still a reporter. Now you get to sit back, drink your coffee at 10 o'clock at night, and shuffle around hysterically trying to meet that deadline. Ah, the dream. A good reporter has three kinds of source material: by researching the written record, interviewing those involved, and observing the events at hand. When at all possible, have all these sources available to make your news engaging and full of vivid detail. The most gigs are in concentrated, large urban areas. That means the easiest way to get the job of your dreams is to be in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, London, Paris, or any other mecca of art and entertainment. While it's a good idea to start out small, know that you'll probably have to relocate at some point to truly do what you envision yourself doing. Some people do choose to start in these larger markets, and sometimes it works for them. If you have the money and the means, it's worth giving a shot just know you're starting out against some of the fiercest competition in the world. The more and more experience you get, the wider and wider your reputation, and the bigger and more impressive your portfolio, the more and more doors will open for you. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is your career. But with time, it will bloom. That is, it will bloom if you're constantly looking for opportunities. Always keep your eyes peeled for the next big story and for the next big story for you. Doors don't open themselves, you know. Opportunities have to be created.
A: Find an internship. Do some freelance writing. Keep up your digital presence. Dabble in editing and other related duties, too. Land a job at a newspaper, magazine, radio or TV station. Relocate to a larger market. Work your way up.

Q: Say "please," "thank you," and "excuse me." Don't hesitate to apologize if you've hurt someone's feelings or done something wrong. Treat everyone with courtesy, whether they are a fellow nerd, a valley girl, or a person with an intellectual disability. Sometimes, correcting others hurts more than it helps. If a person is sensitive or in a bad mood, or if the situation isn't good, let it slide. (With the exception of health and safety issues, of course.) If you know that a person prefers to be corrected, discreetly correct them and don't make it a big deal. Support fellow nerds. Be there for nerds who get bullied, and build up budding nerds instead of tearing them down for not knowing as much as you do. Nerds are usually pretty good with words because they care about getting things right. It doesn't hurt that they may read more in a month than the average American reads in a year. Regardless, the misconception out there is that nerds use big words. Wrong. Nerds use the right word given the context. Sometimes, the right word happens to be a big one. Extremely smart nerds have the ability to use incredibly basic words to explain incredibly complex subject matter. Make the dictionary and thesaurus your friend. Whenever you come across a word you don't know, consult the dictionary. Whenever you believe you could be using a better word given the circumstances, consult a thesaurus. Skip the overly complex or obscure words if you're talking to a child or someone with a limited vocabulary. The point of communication is to share ideas, not make the other person feel inferior. Nerds are cool. That doesn't mean other types of people aren't cool too. As someone who has likely been bullied and looked down on, the last thing you want to do is do that to someone else. Recognize that prioritizing other things doesn't mean someone is unintelligent or boring. Some people who love fashion also love designing complex websites. Some football players love literature. Don't judge people for not being "smart." Maybe they didn't have the same educational opportunities as you have had. Maybe they have a disability. They still could be interesting in other ways, and you never know what you could learn from them. Nerds don't need to rely upon excitement and danger in order to have fun. They enjoy more wholesome fun, such as LAN parties, watching Star Wars, or building and launching a rocket. These activities can be enjoyed alone (independence is a fine thing) or with friends (the more the merrier!). Be cautious about alcohol, especially if you are underage. This can impair your judgment and could harm your ability to recognize harmful or dangerous activities. Say "no, thanks" if anyone offers you drugs. They could be other nerds, but they don't have to be. While geeks often navigate between social groups, nerds are more likely to associate with other nerds, because of common interests. Maybe if you're an abstract thinker, try to find a nerd who's more practical or technical, and vice versa. Having a friend, or a set of friends, who complement you is as much as anyone could ask for. If you don't know any nerds who are interested in what you do, find a community online or try to get your own friends interested in aspects of nerdiness. The web is increasingly becoming an important social community for nerds, mainly because of its focus on free expression and its utility as platform for technology. Don't be afraid to branch out to non-nerdy friends too. They have their own value and may have interesting perspectives.
A:
Be polite. Use the right words. Ditch the idea of superiority. Seek good, wholesome fun. Find friends with similar interests.