Passion

I recently got hooked on the HBO show, "The Newsroom." I cannot stop watching it. Every time I watch an episode, I get inspired and reminded why I chose to be a journalist. Despite the fact I'm not going into broadcast journalism, the stories are still there. The passion to get the truth out is there. The drive to get the story first is there.

I have such a passion for writing. I love to write. But, I love to tell truth more. I like to know things. I like to be curious. I like to know what is going on around me — and I know I'm not the only one.

People want to be informed. But, there is such a misconception of the media now. People see the media as liars and political puppets. They see bias and lies, not fairness and truth. I want to change that perception. I want people to know that journalists can be trusted. I want people to know the information they are getting is accurate and fair and balanced.

Why? It's because I'm passionate. It's because I care about what I want to do. I have dreams. I have goals. I have drive. I have all of these because I have passion. I have a thirst for truth. I have a desire to change things and I know I can do it. I want to be a journalist because I want to change things. I want to make a difference. I want to tell people's stories. I want people's voices to be heard. I want things to change.

I don't know what kinds of things I'll change, but I know I'll do something. I get an adrenaline rush just thinking about staying up late covering a breaking story or picturing myself in a newsroom in the middle of a crisis. I get excited when I see my name in a byline. I get overjoyed when I see people reading the work of my co-workers and myself. I have pride in what I do and I want others to see it.

I know I can't change people's opinions, but I can try to help them see something differently. I want to tell all sides of a story, even if there is only one. I want to do research. I want to work with people who are as dedicated and passionate as I am. I want to be a journalist. I want to be a muck-raking, dirt-digging, truth-uncovering journalist.

I love what I do and what I'm going to do. I don't think I'll ever stop. It's not about the money. It's not about the fame. It's about telling the truth and getting it out to where people can see it. It's about being credible. It's about having passion.