What dreams are made of
My friend informed me that her daughter send me a congratulatory message a week ago after she heard that I was nominated for the fourth Regional Annual Sports Awards (Rasa 2019).
Her daughter is 14 years old. She told her mother she follows my writing and Googled me a few times. This is the same girl who last year wrote me a message saying that she was rooting for me to win the sports journalist title at the Namibia Sports Awards, because she likes to watch the news and saw that I was a nominee. This touched me tremendously, because writing is often about turning complexity into simplicity, so readers of all ages and persuasions can be informed and entertained.
It also touched me because this young girl has the likes of Rihanna and Beyoncé to look up to, for the obvious reasons, but in her class essay she wrote about me and why she wants to be like me someday.
I know many journalists are not really wary of others when we write the things we do, or that we don't look over our shoulder to see who is following the things we write or say. But there are so many young children picking up newspapers and watching TV just to see what we are presenting for consumption to the public.
So many of these young girls and boys actually see us as roles models and value our presence in their lives. Truly, nominations aside, I'm happy to be shaping a child's life in a positive way through my work.
I'm excited to be recognised for my contribution to sport, both locally and regionally. I could complain and say that I sometimes don't have the best resources to work with, or that it is difficult to get hold of some of the information that I need, but that's not me. What you need, you will get if you want it. That's my standing philosophy.
Some might say that am lucky to be counted amongst the top best three sports journalists for Rasa 2019. But the truth is am very far from being the best. I only try to be better than my last article. Sometimes I get it wrong. Then I kick myself. But then I learn and in those lessons I remember not to repeat the same mistakes. I absolutely love doing my job. I enjoy the gratification of knowing that one article can change or inspire someone, young or old.
The reward is the response. Sometimes when it doesn't come, I wonder if I have done a good job. Even one complaint is better than nothing.
So, without growing expectation, I appreciate those who see and read the long and not so long articles; and those who call to debate something I wrote. But mostly I appreciate the athletes, especially those who I work closely us as journalists; to them we owe our ink and paper.
I'm honoured to be nominated. Each sports journalist continues to shape the industry, one step at a time; and for that I applaud everyone for their hard work.
Let's continue to tell the stories that matter. In situations where others don't see possibility, let us make the most of those possibilities.
[email protected]
Her daughter is 14 years old. She told her mother she follows my writing and Googled me a few times. This is the same girl who last year wrote me a message saying that she was rooting for me to win the sports journalist title at the Namibia Sports Awards, because she likes to watch the news and saw that I was a nominee. This touched me tremendously, because writing is often about turning complexity into simplicity, so readers of all ages and persuasions can be informed and entertained.
It also touched me because this young girl has the likes of Rihanna and Beyoncé to look up to, for the obvious reasons, but in her class essay she wrote about me and why she wants to be like me someday.
I know many journalists are not really wary of others when we write the things we do, or that we don't look over our shoulder to see who is following the things we write or say. But there are so many young children picking up newspapers and watching TV just to see what we are presenting for consumption to the public.
So many of these young girls and boys actually see us as roles models and value our presence in their lives. Truly, nominations aside, I'm happy to be shaping a child's life in a positive way through my work.
I'm excited to be recognised for my contribution to sport, both locally and regionally. I could complain and say that I sometimes don't have the best resources to work with, or that it is difficult to get hold of some of the information that I need, but that's not me. What you need, you will get if you want it. That's my standing philosophy.
Some might say that am lucky to be counted amongst the top best three sports journalists for Rasa 2019. But the truth is am very far from being the best. I only try to be better than my last article. Sometimes I get it wrong. Then I kick myself. But then I learn and in those lessons I remember not to repeat the same mistakes. I absolutely love doing my job. I enjoy the gratification of knowing that one article can change or inspire someone, young or old.
The reward is the response. Sometimes when it doesn't come, I wonder if I have done a good job. Even one complaint is better than nothing.
So, without growing expectation, I appreciate those who see and read the long and not so long articles; and those who call to debate something I wrote. But mostly I appreciate the athletes, especially those who I work closely us as journalists; to them we owe our ink and paper.
I'm honoured to be nominated. Each sports journalist continues to shape the industry, one step at a time; and for that I applaud everyone for their hard work.
Let's continue to tell the stories that matter. In situations where others don't see possibility, let us make the most of those possibilities.
[email protected]
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