A very Jake update
. By C. Jake Williams
. October 16, 2008
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Before we get into what on Earth I've been up to the past few months, I thought I'd share the video above. It's me! wakeboarding at Lake Powell in August.

So, the latest. Well as you may know I'm back in Logan, back at Utah State University despite graduating with a BS Journalism degree in May. I know what you're thinking, but hold the congratulations because I'm not here getting a Master's degree.

I'm preparing for medical school.

During the summer I worked in the sports department of the Deseret Morning News, which was supposed to be a grand ol' time getting paid to watch sports. In reality, I never meshed with the Des-staffers and didn't feel like the company was for me. Couple that with the fact they were cutting jobs during my internship, and leaving was the obvious choice. So I applied for an associate editor position at a newspaper in Manti, Utah.

The Sanpete Messenger is a weekly publication in small town Utah and they need some contemporary ideology. I applied for their editor spot - which by the way would put me as their number four in charge and allow me to entirely skip the reporting phase of journalism - in late June and waited to hear back from them. They eventually called and an interview was scheduled, an interview that I nailed! I answered questions truthfully and as completely as possible over 75 minutes of roundtable discussion. I left confident that a job offer was imminent.

And I waited. And waited. And waited.

Eventually I couldn't wait any longer and looked into other careers within and without journalism. I thought about shadowing Shane at the hotel in hopes that I'd be the general manager of the next hotel the company opened. I looked for other newspaper jobs. I even talked to Navy recruiters about become an officer in their service. And I talked to Melissa.

Melissa Nuntapreda is my little Asian darlin', a fantastically motivated woman on her way to medical school - she's applying right now. Melissa took the Medical College Acceptance Test over the summer and wasn't thrilled with her score. That got me thinking about how I'd do on the MCAT, so I took a practice test without a second of studying.

And scored high.

The MCAT has two science sections and an English section, equally weighted for a total score of 45. I scored 29 overall with a 13 in English, historically my weakest subject. That got me thinking more.

I'm taking biology and organic chemistry right now, which takes care of one science section, and I'll brush up on my physics and general chemistry by May. In May, I'll take the MCAT for real and start applying to medical schools, mostly on the East Coast and Great Lakes areas.

So that's my situation for now. I haven't kept in touch with friends or family much in the past two months but I'd like that to change. Drop me a line soon Fs&Fs!

My contact information is always on the contact page.

Introducing the FanRant!
. By C. Jake Williams
. June 14, 2008
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Ladies and gentlemen, toys and boys! We (is there a mouse in my pocket?) at CJakeWilliams.com aim to please, and in that spirit I (did I eat the mouse?) have added another dimension to the site.

I'm calling it the FanRant.

FanRants are an opportunity for readers to sound off on issues they have, whether those be society at large, the sports world in particular, or my thoughts specifically.

FanRants must be sent to my email, CJakeWilliams@gmail.com, and must adhere to a few basic rules, including a 300-word minimum and a ban on anything Too controversial. Your story will include a byline with your name and picture, and readers will have the same opportunity to contact you as they do for one of my rants.

As always, I'd like to thank everyone for the support you show. You guys keep me going when the road gets rocky.

'Contact' section now has a Bio
. By C. Jake Williams
. May 27, 2008
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I finally got around to writing a Bio, which you can find by clicking the 'Contact' tab along the top of my site.

The information will change sporadically as I delete some tidbits and add others.

Suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

A new car and front paging
. By C. Jake Williams
. May 26, 2008
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I bought a car.

I was trying to find something in the $12,000-$13,000 range that would get great gas mileage, was fairly new if not brand new, and with low miles. I found a 2006 Dodge Stratus.

I've always liked Stratuses. My friend Clint even asked me if I was looking at them early last week when I was still far from finding the car for me, and now I own one.

It's worth noting that my Stratus is nearly identical to Shane's 2004.

Mine is gold, but with a little silver hint that Shane's doesn't have. The interior is black, just like his, and has the same basic layout. I ended up with every feature I wanted: cruise control, power windows, power locks, keyless entry, automatic transmission and, most importantly, a bumper-to-bumper warranty for the next five years.

Now I just need insurance so I can drive it.

Another bit of news, and this one is pretty cool in my world: Today the Deseret News put my article about the Salt Lake Bees on the front page of the sports section. Sure it's at the bottom, but I don't care. It's on the FRONT PAGE of the tangible version. The doorstep version.

I'm pretty damn happy this morning!

New article a silver medal
. By C. Jake Williams
. May 14, 2008
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The right words in the right order can change the world, and two words in my byline can slice my credibility.

'For the...'

For the, as in C. Jake Williams reporting FOR THE Deseret News. Not on behalf of or as an employee of, but for the DesNews.

Today my first article since starting my internship was published by the Deseret News. Two words out of 351 have me disappointed.

'For the...'

Disappointed, but not upset.

Nothing has really changed since yesterday. I'm still proud to be an employee at the Deseret News and wouldn't trade my internship for anything short of a full-staff position.

I'm still getting paid to watch sports and convey my enthusiasm for those events to which I am assigned.

Today I will cover a second high school baseball game, Payson @ Cottonwood, and tomorrow an article will appear within the sports section of the Deseret News.

Written hopefully in the right words and in the right order not for the Deseret News, but By C. Jake Williams (an employee of the) Deseret News.

Graduation nears
. By C. Jake Williams
. April 18, 2008
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May 3rd, it's so close now. Happy birthday one day early, mom!

I have sufficient grades to graduate in three of my six classes this semester with two weeks to go. I'm so close to the end of my undergraduate career.

It's getting exciting now.

Two weeks ago I was terrified of graduating. I missed a few classes, maybe I was trying to force another semester on myself. Who knows? But last week I decided ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, lets just get the hell out of Logan. See what comes next.

See if I can reach all that potential I've heard about since first grade.

It's getting exciting now.

My 2nd Deseret News story
. By C. Jake Williams
. April 8, 2008
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My second Deseret News story is in the works. The USU beat writer won't be able to cover the football team's final spring scrimmage so the DesN sports editor has commissioned me in his place.

Even better, I was assuming these two stories would be a gift of sorts to my future employer from a budding employee, but they are in fact going to pay for them.

Freelance wages are way better than intern wages, too. I wish I could get paid this much for every story I write!

CJakeWilliams.com launches
. By C. Jake Williams
. March 29, 2008
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Well friends, after trying out a Soft Opening of sorts courtesy of the university server we've moved on to bigger and better things. You know this already, of course, as You are already on my new website if You're reading this, but I just like writing it! I'm very excited to launch my own domain.

You likely know what content will appear on the site. The most personal information will appear in the news section, published articles will be posted under articles and I'll keep a regular blog under the rantings heading.

Hopefully I can inform You, my readers, about the world around me. That's my hope.

Your hope is likely to simply be entertained. Maybe we'll achieve both. Keep in touch friends, Your feedback is always appreciated.

DesNews offers internship
. By C. Jake Williams
. March 21, 2008
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My letter from the Deseret Morning News arrived! Now, officially, I have been offered a summer sports internship for the Des.

I'd like to stay on with the Des after my internship, but that's far from guaranteed. Either way though, I'll have big-paper experience and the confidence to apply wherever I decide to live.

You were there.