It's Game One of the 1993 World Series in Shabbona Park, Chicago. It's the White Sox versus the Reds. The game has gone into extra-innings tied at four. Center fielder Mike Orta has walked, and I am up to bat in the bottom of the eighth.

Mike is a pretty good hitter. Why didn't he just hit a home run and end this thing? I did not want this pressure. I could have carried on in life without it.

The fastest guy on the team is on first base, there are no outs and a curve ball pitcher is on the mound. I had never prayed for help in my athletic conquests before, but I found myself asking God to not let me look too bad.

The pitcher is in his windup, and here comes the pitch...

It was this instance that sealed my fate with sports journalism. When I was offered the position of sports office assistance for the Milwaukee bureau of The Associated Press, I was overwhelmed by the idea of working for the largest news service in the world. After reading bylines from AP writers for years growing up in Chicago, I knew this would be the perfect fit for my career. Now that I am the sports editor of the Marquette Tribune, I know sports writing is what I want to do.

I decided to take a sports beat in Professor James Scotton's Journalism Reporting class. After a couple of assignments, Prof. Scotton told me about the opening with the AP. I was the Spot News Team Leader of the Marquette Tribune at the time, so I didn't think I had a good change of getting the job. I ended up being hired right after my interview.

My love affair with sports journalism has continued to blossom through my academic career and my work experience on and off Marquette's campus. As Sports Team Leader of the Marquette Tribune I have been able to facilitate my newfound love into agreat opportunity to display the athletic talents of my fellow students. One of the highest achievements of my young career was working on the special section devoted to the late Al McGuire. It was truly special to see an entire staff of students working toward one goal because they realized a legend's effects on campus transcended the newsroom sections.

This summer I hope to further shape my skills with the Milwakuee Journal Sentinel as the summer intern in the sports department. I am looking forward to working with people who hold great reputations like Tom Haudricourt, Gary Howard, Don Walker and Gary D'Amato. This internship will give me the opportunity to start my career in the Midwest region so I can be successful while remaining close to home.