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" DEAR E. JEAN: I&amp;#039;m trying hard to break into broadcast journalism. How do I fulfill my dream of being an on-camera reporter in either sports or entertainment? My problem is, I freeze in front of the camera. I&amp;#039;m 27 and smart and have a master&amp;#039;s degree in journalism, but nothing helps. I lose my breath and start stuttering. My nervousness has resulted in panic attacks and constant anxiety. When I practice in my bedroom, I&amp;#039;m perfect. But in front of others, I just fall apart. Some of my anxiety and insecurity may be because I&amp;#039;m 30 pounds overweight. I&amp;#039;ve started an exercise regimen and I&amp;#039;m trying to eat healthier, but how can I overcome my crippling fear? My student loans top $100,000, but this is what I want to do with the rest of my life! I fantasize about reporting from the Oscars or the Super Bowl. \u2014Dreaming of Greatness DREAMING, MY GUMDROP: Yes! Yes! This is America! You clamor to fulfill your potential. You could lose your breath, choke half to death, and still demand to go down in legend and song. Of course! Run\u2014get a pen. To plan your rise as an on-camera star, here&amp;#039;s your checklist: \u2022 Start an entertainment blog and update it 12 times a day. \u2022 Hire a media coach for daily hour-long on-camera instruction. \u2022 Begin thrice-weekly sessions with a psychologist to help you overcome your panic. \u2022 Hire a writing coach. \u2022 Engage a nutritionist. \u2022 Reserve a trainer three times a week at the gym. \u2022 Pay a wardrobe consultant. \u2022 Keep biweekly appointments with a hairstylist\u2014a multitude of styles and colors must be tried, edited, and viewed on tape, in video, in high-def\u2026 \u2022 Get your makeup done. \u2022 Purchase new undergarments, accessories, earrings, necklaces, and three dresses that don&amp;#039;t &amp;quot;buzz.&amp;quot; In a mere 10 months, you&amp;#039;ll be almost ready to hire a consultant, who will then help you find an agent, who will then get your tape into the hands of an overworked intern at a television station in Akron, Ohio. Alternatively, you could take the stuttering, choking, freezing, panicking, gaining weight, suffering &amp;quot;constant anxiety,&amp;quot; and being &amp;quot;overcome&amp;quot; by a &amp;quot;crippling fear&amp;quot; as signs that it might be smarter to spend your time writing and reporting for an established entertainment or sports blog. Everyone between the ages of 11 and 77 believes she should be famous. From sea to shining sea, poor blighters suffer bitter lives, mourning for the glamour and worshipful reverence they believe they so richly deserved. Please don&amp;#039;t you suffer the same fate. Please don&amp;#039;t you miss out on the wonderful life you could lead if you aren&amp;#039;t on camera. You can &amp;quot;practice&amp;quot; the rest of your life in your bedroom, my dear, but the real life you are living now is just waaaaay more interesting. Ask a question! E-mail E.Jean@AskEJean.com and tweet to @ejeancarroll. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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