Growing up as a sports-obsessed kid in Memphis, the Gary Parrish Show was a staple in my life. So, when I came to the University of Memphis as a freshman and saw his picture on the wall of the Meeman Journalism building, an undecided freshman suddenly found his passion.
Flash forward three and a half years, and I am finishing my last semester as the sports editor of the Daily Helmsman.
I joined the Helmsman because of Professor Candy Justice. She taught me what a good story looks like, and she pushed all of us who took her class to get involved in student media.
When I first started writing, I doubted my abilities often. I credit my former editor, Melek Robinson, for constantly lifting my up and encouraging me.
When Melek graduated, I suddenly found myself as sports editor as a Sophomore. Truthfully, I was probably in over my head that first semester, but the faith that Mrs. Justice put in me enabled me to become the writer and editor I am today.
The biggest lesson I have learned in my time with the Helmsman is that your time in college is what you make of it. With the Daily Helmsman, I've had the pleasure of covering road games at Ole Miss and UAB, attending press conferences and covering my favorite event in the world, March Madness.
The experiences were cool, but the stories are what made my time at the Helmsman special. It is a community that fosters creativity.
I have never been much of a people person, but the experience of collaborating with other students in journalism was invaluable to me.
In my time as an editor, I have been blessed with great writers like future sports editor Nick New and uber-talented writer Robert Randall. The strength of our sports coverage was not because of me. We had a group that enabled us to expand our coverage each semester, and I am eternally grateful for that squad.
As I look ahead to my final semester at the UofM, I am confident in the direction of our paper, and, selfishly, I am super excited to continue to write without the added responsibilities of being an editor.
I have full faith in our new editing staff, and I can not wait to see what the future brings. Until then though, to quote the legendary Joe Buck, "We will see you tomorrow night."
I'm a senior journalism major with a sports media concentration. I have been at the Daily Helmsman for three years now, including two years as the sports editor.
