A DECADE STRONG....

So ummm...I'm back?

I started off as a journalist for
the ULM Hawkeye in 2006.
Currently, I'm the sports reporter for
the Town Talk in Alexandria, LA

Haha, for real though. I guess I am. Every time, I say I am, though, the real world hits and well, yeah...I'm basically writing for my job, podcasting and neglecting my blog.

Enough rambling though, this month is a special month in my career as this is my 10th year as a newspaper writer -- something I've never seen myself being prior to my college days.

Now, most of you might know the story. If not, it's an interesting one of me answering an ad for my school's paper, covering the soccer beat and the rest is history.

What really turned out as me basically wanting a job (or well, a hobby) turned into a sports editor position, to unemployed freelancer still gaining experience, to sports writer for a semi-weekly in a city of 18,000 and finally (for now, at least) a sports writer for a daily in a city of 50,000.

Of course, it was never easy. There were times where I wanted to quit, felt frustrated and even wondered if I made the right choice in stepping in the middle of a "dying" industry according to some people.

However, my family, friends, mentors, mentees and most importantly, God, would not allow that to happen.

They kept me grounded and motivated and eventually, I became an award-winning journalist for my work on a coach's firing here in Alexandria.

I won second place in the LSWA's contest for spot news after
former Peabody football coach Toriano Williams was fired for
allegedly choking a student-athlete. He was cleared of any
wrongdoing and was one of the first people to congratulate me
for this award.

My time at The Town Talk and the past two NABJ conventions I've went to (the first two I've ever been to) have given me wisdom, growth and contacts in order to become a better writer. (I plan to go into more detail on why should inspiring or current journalists should go to them at a later time.)

TNT's David Aldridge has been a big
help to me and other aspiring journalists.

As I continue to try to adapt to the current style of journalism methods and not forgetting the more traditional ones, I hope the next 10 years and beyond will continue to suit me well.

Here's to a great first 10 years for setting the foundation and the tone.