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And Hoda Kotb got confirmation of that on the TODAY plaza Wednesday morning. While the co-hosts were gathered outside Studio 1A, Craig Melvin approached a young man in the crowd who sported a big smile, and he asked him to share a little something about himself.Then he revealed just what — and who — put him on that path.
"I wrote in to Hoda," he said of a letter he penned 10 years ago."Hoda inspired me to become a journalist, and that’s why I’m pursuing my career.", overheard Craig and Nolan's conversation, and it clearly came as a moving surprise to her. "You were gracious enough to write back, and I was struck," Nolan said as he locked eyes with the woman who helped him figure out his career path."I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness! Hoda wrote back.' I was so happy. I was like, ‘Hoda, my favorite!’"Hoda and Nolan shared a big hug as she turned her thoughts to where the future might take him.