Why Not? How a Simple Question Changed My Life

I distinctly remember the moment my brain concocted a phrase that would alter the course of my life indefinitely.

At 22, fresh out of the University of Delaware with a civil engineering degree, I found myself in my one-bedroom apartment in Harrisburg, PA, at 11 pm on a Friday night. Engrossed in a binge-watch of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" on the Food Network, I felt inspired by the delicious meals being prepared and envisioned the culinary experiments I could undertake in my tiny, ill-equipped kitchen.

This routine of culinary exploration led me to start a food blog, "OMG You Can Cook," sharing recipes concocted by my bachelor brain. Despite the occasional far-fetched creations like a French Toast and Duck Grilled Cheese Sandwich, the engagement with my audience fueled my passion to refine my culinary skills, reminiscent of my childhood curiosity watching my family cook.

One day, I decided to pursue recipe contests as a means to promote my creations on a larger scale and eventually publish a cookbook. I stumbled upon a casting call for a new TV show on ABC and hesitated until a single reply to my tweet echoed in my mind: "why not?"

Taking a leap of faith, I applied, anticipating at the very least to network with industry professionals. To my surprise, two months later, I received a call from a Food Network casting director, initiating a whirlwind of interviews over the next few weeks. Each interview left me wondering if it would be the last.

Then, in the fall of 2013, during an MBA Marketing class at Penn State, I received a voicemail from the same California number. "We want you to be on our show!" it exclaimed. Overwhelmed yet emboldened by the mantra "not why, why not," I embraced the opportunity.

That phone call marked the beginning of an incredible journey that would forever change my trajectory.