I decided to become a journalist when I was a freshman in high school. I have always loved talking to people and communicating. Journalism seemed like a natural fit.

So, I started writing a column for my local newspaper to begin building a career.

When I came to SMU, I knew I wanted to get involved with the student paper as soon as possible to continue on my career path.

When I got involved with The Daily Campus and SMU-TV’s Daily Update, I found out that becoming a “journalist” is more than just choosing a career – it’s about catching “the bug.”

Anyone who has taken a journalism class has probably heard at least one professor refer to it. If you’ve worked in a newsroom, you’ve certainly witnessed it yourself.

Catching the news “bug” occurs when reading news, finding news and reporting news is no longer a simple task to fulfill, but a part of who you are.

In the student media office and journalism department where the Daily Update is filmed, signs of this ridiculously corny term – the news bug – can be seen everywhere.

Students run toward sirens, tornadoes and chemical explosions with a camera and tripod strapped to their body, a notebook and pen in one hand and a cell phone in the other.

As crazy as this lifestyle may seem, it is the most addicting part of working in a newsroom, especially in a student media office.

The atmosphere is electric – someone is always on the phone talking to a source, setting up an interview, talking about their most recent story or just finding out the latest buzz.

Just a few minutes in this place and I was hooked.

Even those crazy stressful times – like when you’re just a couple of hours from deadline and still don’t have that last source or your video has to be ready to air at 6 a.m. and you’re only half way done by 3 a.m. – add to the electricity of our newsroom and our people.

It’s why I woke up before the crack of dawn countless days during my college career.

It’s why I spent many all-nighters editing video in the journalism school, racked up hundreds of miles on my car driving out to stories and threw my back out of place carrying pounds of camera equipment up and down the boulevard.

I caught the “bug” and couldn’t help but be a part of an organization filled with amazing people who enjoy the craziness as much as I do.

Being a part of student media at SMU helped me fall in love with journalism and everything that entails.

As the old cliché goes, find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life.

I’d like to say thank you to everyone at The Daily Campus and the Daily Update for helping me realize the truth behind that statement.