You can do a lot of things in 15 years. In my case, I covered what happened to other people. Tragedy, elation, corruption, victory, comedy, errors.  I have just about seen it all. I interviewed presidents one day and John Smith the next.  Sometimes, (actually more often than not) John was more fascinating than powerful leaders.  I saw people at their best and at their lowest possible point.  I talked to grieving mothers and people battling horrendous diseases with grace.  It was within their depth that I learned what true compassion looks like. 

I discovered that you can never take anything at face value. Though the world may seem dark, most people are actually good and strive to do the right thing.  Only a small handful is rotten to the core. I have seen beauty and I have witnessed pure evil.  I learned that words are absolutely powerful. I watched how they boosted and how they destroyed. I remember the faces and stories of people. Because of them, I became a better person. I will never forget that real people were behind each and every story I covered. 

There are many facets of news I will miss but I embrace the opportunity to take the toolbox of skills I spent years collecting and use it in a new way. I am not the first and by far will I be the last journalist to make the leap out of the news truck and into public relations pool. I do, however, plan to blaze my own trail and make a difference for my clients and for TrendyMinds. Let’s face it! I landed in a pretty cool pool! So what will the next breaking news be? That story coming up…