What a time to choose to write my first column for The Press since I joined in May 2011. This time of year we as citizens of the United States take the time to honor all those individuals past and present who have served our country in order to preserve liberty and freedom for us, we celebrate the occasion with fireworks, food, beverages, family and friends. Every year we look with optimism for prosperity while preserving the same rights and ideals we've been afforded since the Declaration of Independence became our Nation's guiding light to follow.

This Independence Day is a time of both celebration and great reflection for this writer. Over this Fourth of July weekend, my younger brother, who I've known all my life is taking the next journey in life through the hands of marriage, and I have the honor and privilege to stand by him as a best man. While weddings aren't particularly my cup of tea because I've remained single most of my life I can respect and honor what it means for two individuals to join together in matrimony. When I was informed I would be a best man I was both surprised and curious to wonder what one person would think if she was still here today.

I speak of my mother who was my emotional rock through the good and the bad times and she always told me that as long as I did my best no matter what, she was proud of me, and that could be because she knew of the struggles and pressures I did and have put on myself to succeed at all that I choose to do. In 2008, this woman who was my rock and who faced several obstacles in her own life, passed away after a short and aggressive bout of cancer at the age of 52. Every day in verbal and slient thought I'm constantly wondering if she is proud of me, and I do know that if she knew about this wedding she would be grinning with joy. Special events from weddings to college graduations always meant a great deal to her. She embraced the joyous events taking them to heart. When I think back to some of my biggest accomplishments thus far I can remember seeing the twinkle in her eyes when sharing both my high school and college graduation from North Idaho College.

Only in America where we can face difficult times one minute and then the next a joyous smile, a wedding, a graduation, birth of a child, reunion with a friend or family member and it always seems the bad moments fade away. Why does this happen? Maybe it's optimism or hope or something more.

This wedding will be special and yet strange for me because of the experience of being a best man and wondering if my mom will be watching, but they make me think of my purpose now with a look into the future. As a college graduate and a bleak economy make me ponder my future and what I want to be when I grow up, yes no matter how old one gets, this question always returns. First, I took the initiative and contacted The Press to find out if they were in need of more writers, while I've studied this profession for most of my young age, I took a personal hiatus the previous three years from the grinds of reporting but I knew the only way I could soak what I learned in the classroom as well as prove I'm competent to do this job is to simply get back into it. With job markets remaining bleak and money a foreign entity to me, I took a risk that usually I would not normally do, not because I didn't want to, but I was afraid to.

Only in America when situations can be bleak and people may dictate or tell you that you can't do something regardless of one's own personal circumstances but choices we make and those innate characteristics that we can't change (age, color, sex and so forth) that one can look in the mirror or at another person and say "you know what? I'm still going to do what I want." In our country it's more about optimism and choosing our path rather than being put in our place.

Optimism has never been a creed that I've lived well with, but I've always kept a dream of standing in front of a television camera at a baseball park, such as Safeco Field, and calling play-by-play in a live baseball game. From the days of watching "Jeopardy" and regular nightly newscasts I learned from the age of 9 that one day that would be my calling to try. I've had my ups and downs trying to find my niche, however it's still the dream that I have and must remember to keep focusing on.

It's funny how we are told by strangers and mentors, parents and others in life that as long as we have resilience, dedication and determination within us that it's possible to achieve anything we may put our minds to. Only in America is this possible, and while I remain struggling to move forward and to find peace with myself, I may not think about it consistently but at least every day there's a fresh chance to start over and see what the next day brings.

I only hope that each of you take a moment this Independence Day and reflect deeper than you normally may. As it's been said only in America is anything possible, now I'm trying to work on this belief, only in America! As I write this, the memories of my past and the current moments I'm living today remind me of my purpose of why I write and chose to become a journalist. Only in America can you be creative with your words yet on the other hand be informative and attempt to make a difference to all.

J.R. Conrow writes for The Press when he has time.

What a time to choose to write my first column for The Press since I joined in May 2011. This time of year we as citizens of the United States take the time to honor all those individuals past and present who have served our country in order to preserve liberty and freedom for us, we celebrate the occasion with fireworks, food, beverages, family and friends. Every year we look with optimism for prosperity while preserving the same rights and ideals we've been afforded since the Declaration of Independence became our nation's guiding light to follow.

This Independence Day is a time of both celebration and great reflection for this writer. Over this Fourth of July weekend, my younger brother, who I've known all my life, is taking the next journey in life through the hands of marriage, and I have the honor and privilege to stand by him as a best man. While weddings aren't particularly my cup of tea because I've remained single most of my life I can respect and honor what it means for two individuals to join together in matrimony. When I was informed I would be a best man I was both surprised and curious to wonder what one person would think if she was still here today.

I speak of my mother who was my emotional rock through the good and the bad times and she always told me that as long as I did my best no matter what, she was proud of me, and that could be because she knew of the struggles and pressures I did and have put on myself to succeed at all that I choose to do. In 2008, this woman who was my rock and who faced several obstacles in her own life, passed away after a short and aggressive bout of cancer at the age of 52. Every day in verbal and silent thought I'm constantly wondering if she is proud of me, and I do know that if she knew about this wedding she would be grinning with joy. Special events from weddings to college graduations always meant a great deal to her. She embraced the joyous events taking them to heart. When I think back to some of my biggest accomplishments thus far I can remember seeing the twinkle in her eyes when sharing both my high school and college graduation from North Idaho College.

Only in America where we can face difficult times one minute and then the next a joyous smile, a wedding, a graduation, birth of a child, reunion with a friend or family member and it always seems the bad moments fade away. Why does this happen? Maybe it's optimism or hope or something more.

This wedding will be special and yet strange for me because of the experience of being a best man and wondering if my mom will be watching, but they make me think of my purpose now with a look into the future. As a college graduate and a bleak economy make me ponder my future and what I want to be when I grow up, yes no matter how old one gets, this question always returns. First, I took the initiative and contacted The Press to find out if they were in need of more writers, while I've studied this profession for most of my young age, I took a personal hiatus the previous three years from the grinds of reporting but I knew the only way I could soak what I learned in the classroom as well as prove I'm competent to do this job is to simply get back into it. With job markets remaining bleak and money a foreign entity to me, I took a risk that usually I would not normally do, not because I didn't want to, but I was afraid to.

Only in America when situations can be bleak and people may dictate or tell you that you can't do something regardless of one's own personal circumstances but choices we make and those innate characteristics that we can't change (age, color, sex and so forth) that one can look in the mirror or at another person and say "you know what? I'm still going to do what I want." In our country it's more about optimism and choosing our path rather than being put in our place.

Optimism has never been a creed that I've lived well with, but I've always kept a dream of standing in front of a television camera at a baseball park, such as Safeco Field, and calling play-by-play in a live baseball game. From the days of watching "Jeopardy" and regular nightly newscasts I learned from the age of 9 that one day that would be my calling to try. I've had my ups and downs trying to find my niche, however it's still the dream that I have and must remember to keep focusing on.

It's funny how we are told by strangers and mentors, parents and others in life that as long as we have resilience, dedication and determination within us that it's possible to achieve anything we may put our minds to. Only in America is this possible, and while I remain struggling to move forward and to find peace with myself, I may not think about it consistently but at least every day there's a fresh chance to start over and see what the next day brings.

I only hope that each of you take a moment this Independence Day and reflect deeper than you normally may. As it's been said only in America is anything possible, now I'm trying to work on this belief, only in America! As I write this, the memories of my past and the current moments I'm living today remind me of my purpose of why I write and chose to become a journalist. Only in America can you be creative with your words yet on the other hand be informative and attempt to make a difference to all.

J.R. Conrow writes for The Press when he has time.