I am a writer.

I live and breathe writing. This is pretty obvious -- I write for the Odyssey and for the UNI campus newspaper The Northern Iowan.

After going to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament in St. Louis as part of the Panther Pep Crew, I thought it would be an interesting experience to cover the UNI Panthers as they headed off to the biggest dance in basketball: the NCAA March Madness tournament.

But getting to the NCAA tournament as a reporter is like getting into the NCAA tournament as a basketball team. I can't just decide on the fly "YES I'M GOING."

I wish it was that easy.

In order to report at the NCAA and hit the floor as a reporter, one has to apply for NCAA credentials. These were open for application on March 1st, then closed, and reopened after the Sunday Selection Show. I was sent the link to cover a specific team and was well on my way.

When the application hasn't even opened yet and you're doing a TON of prep work:

When you're not sure you'll make the big leagues, but you applied anyway.

When you actually make the big leagues (and cry a few tears of joy because of it)

*Pretty sure I was only college student there. Happily wasn't the only UNI person there, so I mostly hung out with the university photographers...*

When the floodgates open and you get a ton of emails from the people in charge of the event's media coverage (and you don't know what to do).

*There's a pretty solid chunk of emails from the Big XII Conference still sitting in my inbox.*

When you have to pack for the 'classy professional' look instead of the usual 'Panther Pride' attire.

When you get a lot of questions and compliments about said flower crown.

*Or, you know, the president of the university recognizes you with the crown.*

When you get the best seats in the house.

When you're seated relatively close to one of the university's more famous alums.

*Dreams do come true.*

When your assigned seat is literally behind the commentators so you have to stay composed.

*I wasn't kidding.*

When you end up doing Twitter updates throughout the game (instead of writing an article).

When you have to be "the unbiased media" but you're clearly there to cover/support your team.

*Literally no one could contain themselves after Paul Jesperson's miracle shot. Especially not Gary Rima. #OhBabyILoveThisTeam*

When your team lives to fight another day, so do you.

And when your team has finished for the season, you have as well (kind of).

But you know, deep down whether you were there with credentials for only one day, for both days, or if you would've had to reapply for the next week and the week after, you experienced something special. You experienced something that a lot of college students wouldn't get to experience. And you're pretty grateful.

It was a dream to be out there on Press Row and in the Media Room, reporting on the great program that is UNI Panthers Basketball.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me through this journey: my editors at the Northern Iowan (where I got my start in journalism), my editors at the Odyssey (who gave me all the information to equip me for this application opportunity), the UNI assistant A.D. for athletic communications (for arranging interviews with the team) the basketball team (for being willing to comment on pieces, as well as getting to the NCAA Tournament so I could report in the first place) and the UNI alumni that I've been in contact with for interviews, as well as my friends and family who have been super supportive and assuring.

I strongly encourage anyone considering applying for something to just do it, because you never know if you'll get it or not if you don't try.