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5.25.2010

How did I get here? (Intro)

When I was six years old, I dreamed of being a professional football player. When I was 15 years old, I dreamed of being an engineer. After a year of chemistry and at the age of 16, I dreamed of being a lawyer--it hit me that science was not my best friend. When I finished my freshman year of college, my idea of being a lawyer was very present, but took a turn in November of my sophomore year of college--I found what Joshua Bennett, not only loved, but was talented at. That finding was my ability as a writer.

My close friend, Jake Hibbard, got me in at the University of Utah's school paper, The Daily Utah Chronicle, as a part time writer. Prior to being hired I had zero experience within the subject of news writing--nada, nil, zilch, ZERO. Jake, also an aspiring writer, took me under his wing and showed me the ins-and-outs of news writing--making sure I knew exactly what I needed to succeed.

After nearly two months of writing for The Daily Utah Chronicle as a part-time writer, I had improved not only my writing skills, but the awareness of what I truly wanted to chase in life. With those two months of improvement came promotion. I took on the full-time news writer position, with the student life beat. Full-time news writer meant not more money, it did, but more importantly greater responsibility. One or two articles a week as a part-timer, turned into one or more articles each day as a full-timer.

As the semester went on I had my ups and downs with writing--sometimes are just better than others. It wasn't until the end of the semester, around late-March, that I finally found consistency. Once I found that consistency I wanted to become more, so I applied for the soon-to-be vacant assistant news editor position. I knew it was a long shot, as I had only been with The Daily Chronicle for five months, but I still tried anyway--I'm not going to build any suspense, because there shouldn't be anyway. Wait, look what I just did, I dragged it on longer. I received the assistant news editor position.

When I stepped foot onto the University of Utah campus, I never would have thought my education would be paid for by scholarship for doing something I enjoyed--I thought that was only something my six-year-old dreams of being an athlete could do. Here I am, assistant news editor for a great paper--I'm trying to not be too biased here.

When I was told I was a respectable writer, I felt good. I love what I do, and I like to think I do a fine job at it. It makes me really wonder however, because if I am capable of doing fine work writing about the news--something I never paid much attention or interest to--what could I do with my writing if it were focused on something I have spent my whole life paying attention to and showing interest. That focus has been sports.

With the exception of the days I wanted to be an engineer, I always wanted my career to involve sports. Whether it be as an athlete, an agent to one, or writing about a world of them, I have always known I want to surround myself with my one true love--sports and every damn thing about them.

My writing isn't limited to The Daily Utah Chronicle, I am an intern for UteZone.com, a website that covers Utah Utes athletics in-depth. It was through my experience at The Daily Utah Chronicle that I landed the opportunity to have my at-bat with sports writing. To this point, I haven't done too much sports writing--that will change when Ute's football picks back up.

So that is my writing resume, if you will. If all goes as plans, this blog I'm starting will be something I can add to that list.

Where will I go next? I have no idea... Sports are what is on my mind, so that's what the reader gets.




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