When you have the chance to earn a living doing something you truly enjoy, you learn to never take things for granted.

You learn to enjoy the small moments that weave together to make the entire experience memorable.

Such is the case working with young journalists and newspaper professionals like I do each and every day.

It is the energy and excitement many of them bring to this craft that keep those of us with a little more “seasoning” — or grey — excited and energized. It is their wide-eyed experiences that prove to us that there are no “normal” days in the newspaper industry.

It is refreshing, but it is also somewhat chaotic.

At a newspaper the size of The Selma Times-Journal you are often hiring journalists right out of college or early in their career. You are hiring reporters who are seeking experience, seeking a chance to write plenty of stories and work on their craft.

They then take that experience to other markets, other newspapers and continue on their newspaper careers.

There are those who constantly ask me about the “turnover at the Times-Journal,” or ask “why do you always have someone new.” Well, we really don’t .

What we have is the normal in and out of journalists that every newspaper  — outside of the career destinations of the Wall Street Journal and New York Times — goes through.

Last week, we saw the departure of Chris Wasson, a reporter who came to the Times-Journal right out of college. He came here and from day one jumped into the fray of a daily newspaper newsroom.

For nearly two years, Chris covered events from Camden to Marion, Hayneville to Demopolis. His tenure at the Times-Journal ended Thursday as he now prepares to go back to college —  graduate school — to advance his career in sports information.

Even though I hate to see Chris leave, we have since hired Robert Hudson, a recent college graduate, who has already jumped into the deep end of the water of covering news, sports and events in the Black Belt.

And, this next week, we will say goodbye to Alison McFerrin, who has worked for the Times-Journal since late May, fulfilling her internship requirements for Auburn University.

Alison will soon head back to Auburn to complete her degree and then look for that first, full-time, “real” job.

Based on her work this summer, she has an extremely bright future in this industry and there is little doubt in my mind, she will excel at any level.

These are just two examples of why working a newspaper at this level is so exciting and entertaining for me.

I have walked in the path these young men and women are taking and it is satisfying to know there are those with good hearts and the commitment to advance and improve this industry.

To both Chris and Alison, I offer my thanks for a job well done and my well wishes for your next steps at school and in life.