I never thought I’d be able to get a job as a sportswriter.

I’m not exactly the type of guy who anyone would describe as extroverted, talkative or even not-socially-awkward.

Maybe that came through in my paper application with The Daily. It wasn’t until the end of fall quarter 2007 that I finally got the job with my second “application.”

I was with my class for our final quiz section in the now-defunct Smokin’ Dicks, drinking beer and eating fries. Then-development editor Sarah Jeglum just happened to be in the same class, and I was able to get a job after talking to her about writing sports for The Daily.

Five quarters later, I’ve covered three sports and written more articles than I can count.

And I came into The Daily as a guy with no experience in any kind of journalism.

But after one trial article in which I managed to transcribe two or three short quotes — I didn’t know digital voice recorders existed then — I was “thrown into the fire,” as my first sports editor said, covering the Huskies’ track and field beat.

From there, I’ve covered women’s soccer, women’s basketball and track, and done spot-duty covering baseball and spring football.

There were highlights and lowlights covering the various sports.

I enjoyed watching the women’s soccer team rise from three seasons of mediocrity to make the second round of the NCAA tournament last season.

I feel honored to have spoken to U.S. Olympians — goalkeeper Hope Solo and pole vaulter Brad Walker — difficult as it was to get in touch with them when they have such busy lives.

My only regret was that I was unable to meet either of the two in person.

I’ve also learned that in some ways, covering a losing team as a journalist can be more difficult than watching a losing team as a fan.

How many times has any fan wished they could ask the coach of their favorite team why their team is playing so bad?

I can say from firsthand experience, though, that when one is at a press conference, sitting 10 feet away from a coach in a bad mood after a loss, asking such a question suddenly isn’t easy anymore.

Sometimes it was frustrating when I wasn’t able to reach a coach or athlete for an interview — not surprising considering many of them may be the busiest people on earth. But that certainly doesn’t help when I have a deadline an hour after said hypothetical interviews.

Writing for The Daily has allowed me to improve my writing skills, and interviews with coaches and athletes have helped me learn how to talk to strangers, though I’m still a work in progress.

With that, I would like to thank my editors for hiring me and keeping me on staff, the sports information directors in the UW’s sports department for setting up all those interviews I requested, the athletes and coaches for putting up with my sometimes inane questions, and to those who read my articles — all three of you — for, well, just for reading.

It’s been a fantastic journey.

Reach columnist Honsen Lin at sports@dailyuw.com.