It won't be easy, but

I drove to Sandy, entered the Rio Tinto south parking lot, handed my parking pass to the parking attendant and parked my car. I got out, walked to the west entrance and showed my media pass, I was in.  And I was completely overwhelmed, intimidated and frightened.  I had covered athletic events for the past three years at that point, but this, Real Salt Lake, was a whole new level of sports writing.  This was professional.  So naturally, I was nervous.

Before I knew it I was standing in the Rio Tinto press box about an hour and a half before the first kick.  The view was incredible from the box, absolutely perfect, any young sports writers dream.  I remember doing all my research, prepping myself with information, before the match began... yet I still felt timid, out of place.

That was just over five months ago.  Last Saturday, Oct. 22, was RSL's final regular season game.  I entered the press box that I had sat in so many times and I felt a sense of love, a sense of happiness.  True happiness.  I had done it, I had been the beat writer for a major publication covering a professional team for an entire season.  This Saturday I will cover their first playoff game and I can't wait.  I love this, I love everything about it.  It's so hard to explain, it's a love that is so strong, it's right.

Along with this strong love is fear.  Fear of the end.  Being the playoff's, I don't quite know how much longer it will last, only time and match results will tell.  So this weekend could be the final match I cover.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a intern and a beat writer for ksl.com.  So much that while getting ready last Saturday for the final regular season match, I pulled my shirt out of the closet and completely broke down, sobbed.  I was overcome with emotion, both sadness and happiness.  Sadness because it's coming to an end, happiness because what an amazing experience this has been for me.  It was a hard moment, but a humbling moment. 

I love writing, I love sports writing, I love it.  So it won't be easy to see my time with ksl.com come to an end, but the experience, memories and knowledge I have gained from this internship will take me onto my next adventure in the life as a writer.  I won't forget anything from these last five months, it's truly been an incredible experience.

My work can be viewed on this link and my latest story can be viewed here.