"As soon as I was old enough to drive, I got a job at a local newspaper. There was someone who influenced me. He wrote a column for The Guardian from this tiny village in India"

In this quote, Nicholas D. Kristof, a popular American journalist and author, reflects on the early impacts in his career path. The quote highlights the significance of mentorship and role models, highlighting how apparently remote or unlikely figures can have a profound impact on somebody's aspirations and profession choices.

The phrase "As quickly as I was old enough to drive, I got a job at a local newspaper", illustrates Kristof's early and earnest commitment to journalism. This information exposes his initiative and passion to immerse himself in the field from a young age, even if it implied taking on entry-level positions. His proactive action of getting a task at a local newspaper suggests a desire for hands-on experience and learning, laying the foundation for his future achievements.

The 2nd part of the quote, "There was somebody who affected me. He composed a column for The Guardian from this tiny village in India", presents an appealing layer of cross-cultural motivation. This unnamed columnist wrote from a small village in India, yet his work reached The Guardian, a highly regarded international publication. This suggests that impactful journalism transcends geographical and cultural limits, and quality in the craft can stem from the most unexpected places.

Kristof's mention of being influenced by this writer might suggest that he appreciated the writer's ability to bring international perspectives and underrepresented voices to a more comprehensive audience. It also suggests an acknowledgment of the power of journalism to connect diverse parts of the world, which may have shaped Kristof's own viewpoint and design as a journalist understood for covering humanitarian issues and providing voice to the impoverished.

In general, this quote illustrates the formative impact of early impacts and highlights the universal nature of impactful storytelling, as well as the serendipitous ways in which direct exposure to different perspectives can shape one's career trajectory.