Once upon a time, there was a pre-pharmacy student who wrote a “motivation letter”. As was the case for all applicants to the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, she had to convince the selection committee (in 500 words) that her motivation for becoming a pharmacist qualified her for acceptance to pharmacy school. That student was me, and I vividly recall how I struggled to write that letter. I ended up listing such lofty goals as “helping mankind by making a significant difference in the well-being of patients” and “having a fulfilling professional career”. Now, almost 32 years later, I find myself writing another motivation letter. As I embark on my 5-year term as Editor of CJHP, I ask myself what exactly has motivated me to take on this major endeavour. This time, the answer is easy and requires just 16 words: “I would like to give something back to the profession that has given me so much.” Little did I appreciate that those big words in my pharmacy motivation letter would ring so true and be so directly applicable today in my role as Editor. Back then, I used the words more as a way to gain acceptance to pharmacy school than to describe my true feelings. Now, I can’t think of words any more appropriate to describe exactly how I feel.