What a difference a year (or eight) makes!

There have been a lot of changes over the last several years for me, personally. And I feel pretty sure that many of you can say the same thing. Those changes have all been different; some good, and some not so much. But, I know that the changes in my life, both personally and professionally, have been for the best.

Eight years ago, on Feb. 3, I began working as the editor of The Steel Country Bee. When I started, I had no experience whatsoever in journalism. I didn’t work on the yearbook or newspaper staffs in high school or college, and I didn’t have any formal training in journalism. But despite my lack of experience, I was hired for the position.

There have been a lot of growing pains over the last eight years. I have learned better ways of handling stories, recaps, and, most importantly, people. I have covered wrecks, fires, sports events, 100th birthdays, and everything in between. I am not going to say that I am a million times better than at what I do than I was eight years ago, but at least I have experience now. And many of those experiences, I would not have had, were it not for my position.

I have tried to become known as someone who is going to do their best to cover all aspects of the community as possible. Many times, I have been by myself in doing so. And sometimes I have missed things and events. Sometimes, those misses have been due to oversight on my part, and sometimes those have been because I wasn’t aware of the event or circumstance. But I can guarantee it has not been for a lock of effort or desire to be everywhere at all times.

I take pride in my job, and the product that I put out weekly. Are there times I think of what I could have done differently? Absolutely. But I will always be able to say I did my best. I can honestly say that I love my job. I have grown a much thicker skin than I had eight years ago, but it stills bothers me to a point when I feel like I have made a mistake.

As I sit here looking at the start of my ninth year in the newspaper business, I have found myself looking back over articles from the past eight years. If there is anything that looking back has taught me, it is this: there can always be improvement, and there can always be growth. I feel like I have done both over the past eight years, and I hope to continue to do so for many more years to come. I want to continue doing this job I love for a long time.

So, if you find yourself at a crossroads, I tell you this: don’t be afraid to look back. It is in our past that we can find the building blocks and stepping stones we need to build the future we desire. So, look back, find your stepping stones, those things in your life to build on, but then move forward. And keep looking for My Perspective each week, because I don’t plan on going anywhere for a while!