So, I’m in the middle of the woods when National Public Radio calls…

I’m vacationing with my sister and her family in a small Wisconsin town. I’m pushing my youngest niece, Gita, on the swing when my mobile phone rings. Wow, there’s a cell phone tower near by. I answer the phone, "Hello, this is Will Wright. How can I help you?” Then, I hear “this is 'so and so' from National Public Radio.”

I say, “Good. O.k.” Thankfully I just responded by reflex with a “business-friendly” response.

I am told that they want to schedule a phone interview with me for the internship for which I applied! Whoa. …You apply for it, but frankly, you don’t expect to receive the call. It’s extremely competitive.

So, I am told to expect an E-mail that will detail how the interview will go. It’s just going to be 15-minutes of conversation. Yeah, but that conversation could set the course for my public radio journalism career.

Before I received the E-mail, I simply knew that NPR wanted to talk to me. I mustn’t write “simple” because it’s a big deal. Questions remained. For which program was I being considered? I knew that someone would interview me, but that was all.

Later that day, back at my sister’s house, I checked my university E-mail account. I learn that a Ms. Walker, a Sr. Supervising Producer, will talk with me. Whoa. I don’t know how senior that is, but it sounds impressive and intimidating enough. I also learn that she works with Michel Martin’s “Tell me More” show. I do some research. I learn that Ms. Walker was a producer for Tavis Smiley in California.

The next day, I had to go to my day job. I started at 10am. My interview would be about four hours later. I would still be at work. I felt poorly for my employer. It's very hard to concentrate on the day's work and my learning curve when I'm facing a decisive interview.

I felt a combination of feelings. I’m cool because NPR called me. I’m anxious because NPR called me. I’m also nervous. Guess why?

During the phone interview, I calmed and found a comfort zone, after a while. I broke down the biology of a radio conversation and her response was telling. She sounded very satisfied and said, “Exactly.” It seemed like I had nailed the interview.

I had not expected to be called. I had not expected to satisfy the interviewer. You hope. You don’t expect.

What did I expect? I don’t know. That’s a longer discussion.