Three-and-a-half years ago, I interned at Indianapolis Monthly magazine, assisting with tough jobs such as restaurant reviews and searches for the best “cheap eats” in town — an assignment oh-so difficult for a college student.

For the September 2006 issue, they put me on an editorial quest to find the best Indiana-grown popcorn judged by taste, appearance and 'popability.' This was an exciting assignment, yes, but there was one minor hang-up: I hated popcorn.

Nevertheless, I researched where every popcorn brand grows its corn, scoured grocery stores and super marts for Indiana-grown popcorn in butter and light varieties, and popped dozens of bags of popcorn for an in-house taste test. After all that, I can say I finally started to like — and even appreciate — the taste of those airy cornballs.

So now, three internships and a diploma later, I’m at Angie’s List Magazine, occasionally taste-testing the fresh-daily buttery snack from the company’s carnival-like popcorn machine located in the Firehouse. My tastebuds are now seasoned professionals at grading popcorn’s taste, appearance and 'popability,' and I give Angie’s List popcorn an “A.” Now, if only that grade counted for something on the List.