What’s your gimmick?

Everyone has one.  It’s the gimmick, the schtick, the line or  anecdote that gets them noticed, that gets them hired.  It’s the first part of any good cover letter, the sales pitch during any interview.  But which one to pick?

I hate writing about myself.  That was my gimmick in high school, actually.  ”I want to be a journalist because that way I can always assure the cameras are pointing away from me.”  Not bad.  Or, at least, no college rejected me for using that line.  I wrote about my family, my friends, my vision for the future.  Hook, line, sinker.

I’m currently in the process of applying for the Stone & Holt Weeks Fellowship, which would let me spend 12 weeks working for the Washington Post and 12 weeks working for NPR.  Before I could shriek, “This was made for meeeeee!”, my palms began to sweat. “B-but, you want me to write about myself?”  Not only did I have to write about myself, but I had to explain how I’ve changed the world.

I want this fellowship.  I’m still, at the eleventh hour, trying to find the words to express how much, but I want this fellowship.  I sit at my sad, dying computer and my fingers ache to talk about Jenna, my best friend in high school, the one who died in a car accident.  I feel an inexplicable connection to Jan and Linton Weeks.  But I won’t, because even though it feels heartfelt and genuine, I’m not sure how it would translate on paper.

So I revert to how I’m really changing the world, how I’ve always wanted to change the world. “I believe in the profession of journalism…”  You know the rest.  Cross your fingers.  Wish me luck.

What’s your gimmick?