Thank you Jeff Parham.
Thank you Ernest L. Wiggins.
Thank you Margaret Bernstein.
Thank you Alyssa Lenhoff.
Thank you, thank you, thank you...
These names mean nothing to many of you who are reading, but for me, they are everything.
It's on their shoulders that I stand as a journalist and it's these people who helped me find my way into the NABJ family.

They were the ones the helped ignite a spark of journalism in me and the ones that gave me a helping hand into the field.

I first learned I could write when I was in the sixth grade. My teacher, Jeff Parham, would brag about my writing to the class. He was the first person that ever made me feel smart and special. I'll never forget the day he asked me if I had thought of being a writer. I remember looking up from my comic book and thinking to myself "Yeah, right..." He then told me that I had a way with words and I should give it some thought. I do remember thinking, that black people don't do journalism.

Fast forward, six years later and I came face to face with Ernest L. Wiggins the first black reporter that I ever met. I interviewed him as part of the application process for a scholarship from NABJ (I didn't win). He kept in touch with me while I was an undergrad at Benedict College and always encouraged me to keep writing and do my best. He was the light that showed me the way into journalism.

Three years later, Margaret Bernstein, a columnist at the Cleveland Plain Dealer took me under her wing and taught me about deadlines, professionalism and work ethics. Plus, she was an excellent writer. Even though I was a sports clerk, she treated me as an equal and I'll never forget that.

Alyssa Lenhoff, a reporter at the Tribune Chronicle in Warren, Ohio, believed in me. She believed in me so much that she and her husband, Marc, paid my way to my first ever NABJ convention in Detroit in 1992. Every time I succeed in something, I think of her and her investment in me.

On Saturday, Nov. 1, all of these people crossed my mind as SDABJ prepared for its annual "Pro for a Day" program at Southwestern College in Chula Vista. As I looked across the room, these students reminded me of the passion and drive I feel for this career. It's something that I, along with SDABJ, wanted to share with them as we kicked off our day.

SDABJ is so lucky to have so many professionals who contribute to the success of our group. From our "Meet the Pros" panel to the primer on writing, to the press conference and hands-on exercises, SDABJ showed the kids the ropes.

It was a long day and I'm sure some kids would have rather slept in, but I think years from now, someone, somewhere will write a column that begins like this

"Thank you SDABJ. Thank you, thank you, thank you...."