"5 From 30"

A few months ago I was talking to my friend D and he asked how old I was at that moment. At the time I was 24, months away from today, the day when I turn 25. He said oh you're "5 from 30." Instantly I felt old and I panicked. I think inside myself I thought will I hit my target {whatever it is}, are things going as planned, am I on the right time track?

The target, the plan, the time track, where exactly I'm headed I was unsure of, and it's not much clearer today. For the last ten months I've been employed by the top television news division in the United States, and arguably in the world. For anyone in my chosen career field it is the ultimate position to be in. I regularly talk with network producers, correspondents, and executives reporting some of the most important stories of today. Many days I'm fortunate enough to assist in the news gathering for pretty important broadcasts. I have had a front row seat to history.

In about a months time I'm giving it up though. I'm walking away from my job in order to get a master's degree I'm still figuring out how to afford. In my heart against all logic, defying rhyme and reason, I felt the risk was one worth taking. Just last weekend I stood in my New York city apartment and thought to myself, what in the hell have I done? Have I sabotaged my career, ruined potential professional relationships? Have I ended a great ending by hard stopping a great beginning?

Then today I read this , which reinforced so many things I've read recently words of wisdom from Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to veteran journalist Belva Davis. Patrick's book "A Reason to Believe" reminded me I needed but one reason to believe. Davis' book "Never In My Wildest Dreams" summed up the past 10 months, except I did dream it. Three years ago on a trip to NYC I walked over to the building where I now work, looked up and said I'm going to work there one day, and it came to pass. 10 months ago I moved to NYC with an air mattress, a duffel bag, and a back pack and I've survived.

So I will continue to believe as one anchorwoman told me on one of my first days, "I will be great."

I will get back to this place, or I will get to a place that is all the better or right for me.

Besides I'm just "5 from 30" with hopefully a lot more time to go.