By Kathleen Szot, account associate

I used to hate writing. (I know what you’re thinking: That’s a funny thing for someone in the communications profession to admit.)

If you’d give me an equation, I’d find the solution. Give me directions, and I could find the destination. But give me a blank piece of paper and pencil, and I’d get a knot in my stomach.

I felt similarly about running. Beginning in junior high, students were required to run a mile as part of an annual fitness test. Four laps around the track sounded torturous. I was sure I’d need to stop for a rest.

But here I am today, one half marathon and six 5Ks under my belt and two months into a great job with Borshoff, a distinguished communications agency. How did I get here? I credit my high school gym teacher who advised, “Can’t never did nothing.” Improper grammar aside, Coach Armontrout had a point. I’d been telling myself for so long that I couldn’t do it that I stopped trying.

Though it didn’t happen all at once, I eventually began to welcome the challenges of both writing and running – and my aversions waned. I joined my high school tennis team, which involved a great deal of running in pre-season conditioning. As an undergraduate at Notre Dame, my coursework prompted interesting writing assignments.

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