Back in 1979, I was 8 years old, we received an assignment at school to see and write a story about the first presidential debate happening that year featuring soon-to-be-elected President Reagan. Little did I know the impact watching that debate had on me. I was mesmerized by the coverage. Sure, the message was important -- as much as it can be to an 8 year old -- but more so I was caught up by how the message was being covered. Tom Brokaw was as masterful then as he is today. I decided then that I wanted to be a journalist.

Tom Brokaw, dean of NBC News

The years that followed, those formation years, were filled with all sorts of stuff, but always making sure I was able to take opportunities to feed my budding journalistic soul. I wrote all the time... stories, for the school papers, much longer school assignments than I should have... all for the love of storytelling!

During college I solidified this passion -- expanding my love of storytelling to images and sound too! I wrote for the school paper then too, and love every minute of it.

The day I graduated, I thought I would just call up NBC the following Monday, tell them I was finally ready to go, and away we would go. Uhm... not so much. Actually took about three years of constant applications before I got the nod. And when it came... talk about emotion.

I was driving through my neighborhood when the call came in. NBC wanted me! I started the next Monday (see... I knew that Monday thing would happen.) Instant tears down my face. I had to pull over to avoid crashing. It was such a satisfying moment. It was a blessing and an answer to many, many prayers.

I loved every bit of my nearly 5 years at NBC. And no doubt, covering the 96 presidential campaign was probably the pinnacle in the midst of many cool assignments.

On a day like today, when we usher in a new president and reflect on another's time in office, I am remembering those days on the campaign trail. And am remembering how it was the presidential process that first inspired me to become a journalist.

Cool stuff.

My Inspiration to Become a Journalist