When I was younger, my parents would make clippings of any sports or educational news that mentioned my brothers and me. It was cool to see my name under the honor roll list. But nothing compared to seeing my name in the paper when I was 9, when the San Francisco Giants emerged victorious and my dad immortalized it on the side of the refrigerator.

The pages may be yellow and a little crisper now but the moments are just like yesterday. I was happy then, and I knew my parents were proud. I look back at those moments and realize my ultimate goal in life has not changed. I always want to make my parents proud.

A story is the past, present, and future. When the opportunity presented itself for me to work for the newspaper, I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what some of the responsibilities entailed. In a way I still don’t. But I do get to make a kid smile, because years from now, he or she can look back with fondness at their own bit of history. Be it the star softball pitcher who tossed for a complete shutout, the former high school star who showed his player of the week game to his cocky kid to let him know he is a product of greatness, or a little leaguer who can see the all-star championship team and laugh at the inside stories only teammates will know. These moments are immortal. As the newest addition to The Brewton Standard staff, it’ll be an honor to play a small hand in writing those memories.

I’m not the first nor will I be the last to serve as sports editor. I just hope to carry the integrity of those before me into the future for those after me. I want to thank The Brewton Standard for this opportunity. To my predecessor, Adam Robinson, I thank you for your help and patience. You are a class act and a tough act to follow, but I’ll do my best. For those I have had the fortunes to run into and be congratulated by, I thank you, but it’s a little too early. A month or so from now will test the sincerity. And to my family, I am forever grateful.

There is really not much else to say because actions speak louder than words. Ironically words are what I’ll be serving you each week.

My past makes me, my present defines me, and my future knows me.