A gasoline tanker overturns on the interstate. Gas starts leaking onto the road. Midnight traffic comes to a standstill. People in area hotels and businesses -- evacuated. The Department of Highway Safety fears the situation could become explosive at any second.

And I'm the only person inside the newsroom stuck monitoring scanners, calling in crews, prepping for break-in coverage, all the while producing a 90-minute morning newscast.

There's only one thing that can prepare you for this situation—real-life experience. Or as college students call it—an internship.

I spent countless hours interning in newsrooms while at Georgetown. I fought to receive credit for my time spent away from the classroom. But it wasn't until Professor Feinman introduced her internship class that the battle was finally won. Her class allowed me to receive credit for my time in the 'biz' and gave me a chance to hear from other students interning for radio stations, newspapers or online media.

Journalism operates as its own beast. It's not an industry you can teach in a classroom. You can't convey the excitement of a breaking news story, the stress of constant daily deadlines or the frustration of a story that doesn't make slot (a story that doesn't air on schedule). You can't convey the creative spirit of writing a compelling lead-in, the competitive air of 'smoking' the competition or the anxious release of tension at the end of a live newscast.

But that doesn't make journalism classes unnecessary. In fact, quite the contrary. Some things are best learned in the classroom—like ethics. In a newsroom, you don't have the time debate showing body bags or giving airtime to fringe groups. Even more important, you don't have anyone teaching you how to write.

Writing for tv is nothing like writing that theology paper—trust me. You have to be conversational. You must write to video. And you can't forget, your anchors need time to breath.

It's not something that comes naturally. It takes practice. Lots of practice. And then, more practice. I'm not kidding. When you apply for a job in this business, potential employers give you a writing test. You receive poorly written wire copy that you have to convert into understandable, relaxed copy. And you're timed.

That practice is exactly what a journalism class provides. You may blow off that quick, four-sentence assignment that your professor gives you, thinking it's a no-brainer. Think again. It's the best tool a professor can provide to prepare you for this crazy, hectic, addictive lifestyle.

Journalism classes provide the tools. Internships provide the passion. And if you're lucky, the two can go hand-in-hand, helping to create your career.

That's what happened for me. Two years out of school, I'm producing the 10pm newscast in market 71. Our ratings are starting to climb.

And that's what I hope for you.