Counting down the days until CAMP

By Jen DePaul, JAWS Board Member

The dog days of summer are over. The kids are back in school. Congress is back in session after a month-long hiatus and those weekend beach excursions are a distant memory. Fall is officially here for better or worse. And JAWS CAMP is only one month away!

For me, the best part about JAWS CAMP is rekindling those long distance relationships and creating new ones. It’s about reenergizing myself as a journalist who unfortunately sometimes becomes skeptical about the industry. While it may only be three short days, they are some of the most memorable of my entire year. I feel like a new woman after CAMP!

This will be my third JAWS CAMP and I’m excited as ever about the panels and the women who will be joining us in Essex Junction, Vermont. As a New Hampshire native and frequent Vermont visitor, I’m excited to welcome you to the Green Mountain State.

I’m especially excited to know I will be surrounded by an inspiring, talented, smart and helpful group of women. I had several significant changes this year, most recently transitioning into a new job. During the process of taking my next career step, I spoke with a handful of JAWdesses, who not only helped me brainstorm about what I could do, but actually connected me with potential employers.

I have lived in Washington, D.C. (now Arlington, VA) for three-and-a-half years and I learned quickly how cutthroat it is down here. However, there really aren’t any other professional organizations that I can turn to and honestly say I feel 100 percent comfortable talking about my career and other personal information besides in JAWS.

Being part of this strong support network has boosted not only my confidence as a woman but as a journalist as well. So many JAWdesses played a big role in achieving my new job and for that I am grateful.

I look forward to hearing about so many other JAWdessess’ accomplishments, travels, adventures and new projects at CAMP. If you don’t already know me, please introduce yourself.

Don’t forget to bring items for the auction and wear your earrings! See you in a month!