I'm not gonna do it, girl... I did it!

Have you ever had someone in your life who just wouldn't let something go, no matter how many times you told them no?

For two years, my News Director pushed me to give the anchor desk a try. Considering it was one of the few things I had yet to do at Siouxland News... it made sense! 

I wanted no part of it. 

But Diana was relentless! These are just a few excerpts from cards and emails she sent me over the last two years... 

• March 2019: “You went from being a digital producer to producing, photographer, basically doing everything in the newsroom and now you’re finally on air! And now what comes after MMJ? Anchoring!”
• Winter 2019: “Now all I believe you have left is to anchor!”
• Sept. 2020: “If this card doesn’t get you in the anchor desk then I am out of ideas! I am not giving up!”
• Christmas 2020: “Only a few more days left in the year. Please don’t let me down by not anchoring!”
• March 2021: “Inside your gift is a clue to your next challenge! It must be completed by this summer!” (It was a blue boat anchor wall hang!)
• March 2021 - After Producing an Hour-Long Special Newscast: “Now you can check this one off your list. Up next is anchoring! Can’t wait for that day!”

These don't include the casual mentions in the newsroom or in her office, or text messages... when I tell you she was determined... she was determined! 

Being a news anchor is never something I could truly see myself doing. As a kid, I wanted to be the next Katie Couric on the TODAY Show. Watching her every morning before school, I longed for the day to be just like her. That was as close as I had come to wanting to actually sit at the anchor desk. 

And in April of this year... I caved. I finally said yes, I would give it a go. Mind you, I am a low-maintenance kind of girl. I don't wear a lot of make-up and prefer my hair in a bun or braid. I am NOT anchor desk material! 

I did my first newscast at 5 p.m. on April 30th, taking Diana's spot at the desk as she filled in for our morning show. Our Chief Meteorologist and notably one of my closest friends, had to do my make-up because I had no clue where to even begin. 

Now, 5 months later, I am doing something else that I never imagined. 

Beginning September 13th, I will officially make the anchor desk my home for the next year, joining our AMAZING evening team every week night at 9 on FOX 44 and at 10 on CBS 14. 

INSANE.

​And I truly do enjoy it.

Needless to say... Diana won this stand-off... by and large. After nearly 6 years working in her newsroom, I should know by now that she knows best! 

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​Now, this journey hasn't been smooth sailing by any means. I still struggle to see how I, with so little time and experience at the desk, qualify to take such a coveted position that some journalists work towards for years. I struggle to see how I earned this or deserve this spot. 

I fight "imposter syndrome" constantly, battle low self-esteem and often fail to see the positives in things about myself. Putting myself in front of a camera, and in the homes of the community I've grown up with my entire life, in my own hometown, is frankly... terrifying. But sharing the stories that matter the most with my people and my community is also an honor I will forever be grateful for.

My biggest fear is letting them, and Diana, down. 

Throughout the last two weeks leading up to my official move to the desk, I've had the opportunity to fill in for both our evening shows and morning newscasts, gaining some much needed and valuable time on air before joining a team of extremely experienced journalists and meteorologists every night. 

I am so excited to begin this new journey at Siouxland News and can't wait to see what this next year has in store! 

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