If you know me, I am rarely speechless or surprised. After experiencing this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, I only have one word: Wow!

Nothing could have prepared me for this experience. When people say, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” they truly mean it. 

Before this weekend, I had never been to a NASCAR race. I have never even watched a NASCAR race on TV.

Honestly, I did not know what I expected. Maybe just some fast cars racing around in circles?

But after experiencing this weekend, I have gained so much respect for everything that goes into NASCAR. Not only the drivers, but the pit stop crew members, the public relations crew leaders, and, most importantly, the journalists and photographers.

After spending three full days at the track, I can fully say my future career will never be a sports photographer. 

Do not get me wrong, I am grateful that I got to experience NASCAR racing first-hand. It was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would only like to experience once.

People do not understand the amount of work media journalists and photographers put in. Over three days, my fellow journalists and I have worked nearly 39 hours. That means we have averaged 13-hour work days!

Although weekends like these have their fun moments, it is extremely hard work.

Journalists and photographers give 100% effort at all times. Their minds never turn off, and they never have a break. Even when sitting down and rejuvenating, they are running through interview questions or thinking of ways to get interviews, like ours with Garrett Smithley and Toni Breidinger.

Journalists are always looking for a story. When a crash happens in Turn 4 within the last 20 laps of the race, you see every cameraperson sprinting to get a good shot. That is the media. 

Media is doing everything under the sun to talk to Daniel Suarez for five minutes. It is also the photographer getting covered in rubber and dirt for one good photo. Media is standing out in the freezing cold to bring attention to NASCAR racing.

Media is everywhere. It is the reason you are reading this right now. It is the reason you stay updated on your own life.

Next time you are at any public event or watching on TV, look around. Look at the journalists and photographers. Understand their work and appreciate it.

There is a lot that goes into the media. Even as a student journalist, I did not understand the hard work that was put in every day. 

I took three full days as a full-access photographer on the Atlanta Motor Speedway track to realize that, but better late than ever.