Bobby Trosset, a Broadcast Journalism major and Spanish minor at Loyola University Maryland from Delmar, NY, just returned from the 2016 Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro.

"Bobby stood out in class because he was eager to learn... He was—and is--thoughtful, resilient, and self-motivated." -Dr. Peggy O'Neil, a professor at Loyola University Maryland

My Interview with Trosset about growing up in small town-New York, and ending up at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, can be found here:

Do you think growing up in Bethlehem, NY shaped you into who you are today?

I think wherever you grow up plays a factor in the pride you have for your family… growing up in Delmar, NY, although I think I can’t see myself living here for the rest of my life, I’ll always cherish growing up in the vibrant small town feel.

When did you decide on your major at Loyola? What do you want to do with your degree?

I flipped around a lot and I was a late bloomer. The last possible semester [I had to choose a major] I chose Spanish and Broadcast Journalism. I went into Loyola thinking [broadcast journalism] would be a small part of my life there and maybe I’d start doing a radio show there. I was in touch with the radio department. There’s a stereotype that comes along with communications majors--that there are no jobs and you get a bad rep in college because everyone sort of thinks it’s a breeze in class and a joke. At one point I said this is something I want to pursue and it was after a discussion I had with one of my advisers who said: look, you’re only here for four years. Why are you going to waste your time doing something you don’t enjoy doing? That stereotype has driven me to want to change that.

How was Rio? What was your job there and what did you learn during your experiences there?

Back in August 2015 I found an application to apply to be an NBC Sports Intern. I didn’t hear anything for months, but at the same time my aunt is a producer for the Today Show at the Olympics and had tried to help me with NBC Sports previously. I got rejected months later and I was beside myself because I applied to so many different angles of NBC Sports. It was tough, but the Today Show reached out to me when I was abroad in the fall and saw my application and offered me an interview with them.The title is a "NBC’S Today Show Runner." We assisted everything and anything--transported athletes to and from the village, helped with breaking down the set every day, made sure the TV personalities were OK, and made sure they were getting to and from their hotels. It was just so exciting to be able to be in such an exhilarating atmosphere because you just don't know who you're going to see. To be at the pinnacle of sports was awesome. The runners were from Australia, London, the U.S. and Rio. The majority of them have a TV background, but some were there for other reasons. I’ll tell you one thing--my biggest takeaway from my runner team was meeting the Brazilians. It was really special to see up close and personal how much pride they have for their country. With so much bad press and all of that in the news about Rio and Zika, and all the doubt people had about the games. For it to go smoothly and be one of the most successful Olympic Games yet from a broadcast perspective in NBC’s mind, it was great to see how genuinely proud of their country they were.

Would you say social media plays a large role in your success?

I think as the son of the mother who is an internet marketer and website designer I’m very in-tune with the social media world and how important it can be. I think I really take a lot of pride in my social media. I think at some point during the last few years, I made an effort to really think about what I was posting and when I was posting it. I think it’s a big part of my life, and as much as I wanted to take-in Rio without a cellphone, many times I said you know what? You really have to document it. I think social media plays a big role because it’s just so cool how in the last year I've been on four continents and all of the people I meet I go out of my way to make sure I’m connected with them. My parents are a different generation and didn’t have that luxury when they were our age. Social media plays one of the most important roles in our field.

If you could go back ten years and say something to yourself, what would you say?

Realize there are other parts of the world and other things going on. There is a world outside of Delmar, NY. Even in high school--18 or 19 year old Bobby, would get worked up over the smallest things. Yes it’s natural, it’s the human mind. But when I started to travel and meet people and see different environments, all of the things I’d get worked up over in small town Delmar become irrelevant, because there’s a whole world out there that needs to be seen. So, to 11-year-old Bobby, just wait 10 years and you’ll come around.

What is your best advice for students who are just beginning their journalism studies?

My piece of advice for Journalism majors just entering college would be: First and foremost, develop a relationship with someone who you trust, someone who you’re in awe of and who you can learn from within the field. That certain someone is going to be there every step of the way. My second would be after you take your first few classes at your university, don’t be afraid to go out and start trying to find those internships that are off campus. Often times kids will get stuck throughout their four years and end up staying on campus. I had to work for it and it wasn’t always easy, but I’ve been able to have two different internships off campus. It took a lot and I made sure all my classes were organized so I could do that. Find that certain someone who could be your lifeline on what you want to do, and go out and make a difference on your campus. Expand yourself and get off campus to get a taste of the real world and go jump into it.