Career Mirror -- by Terry Chung

Remember way back in grade school when your teacher asked what you wanted to be when you grow up? Then you'd reply a doctor, a lawyer, etc. How about entertainment writer? This is the case for one Mike Boon, 20, of Calgary.

Since he was in high school, Boon has always wanted to write reviews. "Grade 10 CALM class they asked what I wanted to do and I said 'I wanted to be an entertainment writer'. I got a big laugh out of the class, but here I am now."

It was way back in 1994, when he was still a student at Western Canada High School, that he got his first taste of print journalism. "Erica Ehm, from MuchMusic was at Western where I went to school, and Chris Dawson, a reporter, was doing a story on her, and he asked my opinion on her speech and so I started talking to him about 20 Below."

Before he knew it, Boon was writing for 20 Below, Herald's section dedicated to youth. "I worked there for about three years and basically doing that for fun. Time came they needed someone in Entertainment and I got my nose in the door, and since then I've taken over."

Boon is very well respected in the office, "Mike is a very good reviewer, it's very hard to find a movie reviewer that's not swept away by the hype," said Eric Dawson, Herald Entertainment Editor. "When Titanic came out, he was the only one that said the special effects were good and that the script was a real dog," he said.

What's the most rewarding thing about writing for a big paper like the Herald? "Seeing yourself in print every Friday, you think you get used to it but after so long it's exhilarating," says Boon.

The remarkable thing about Boon is that he does not have any kind of journalism training whatsoever. So what kind of advice does he have for people trying to break into the business? "Just have patience and persistence basically, I mean 20 Below (or Unadulterated as it is known now) I didn't even get paid for that, but it led somewhere so I kept with it."

Boon is currently in his second year of Environmental Chemistry at the University of Calgary. When he is away from the office, he likes to spend time with his fiancé and just hang out.