"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." - William Shakespeare
While rummaging through old boxes in my garage recently, I came across something that left me absolutely amazed.
Laminated and in pristine condition was a paper with my young face that read in bold "My Exclusive Story Told Here for the Very First Time!"
Shocking, but nonetheless an eye-opener.
I wrote "The Kyla Woodard Times" newspaper in the fourth grade. If I remember correctly, it was a back-to-school "get to know me" assignment.
It was filled with all the works, in my lovely handwriting, might I add. It is missing some AP style, but hey, it's the thought that counts.
An exclusive news story I wrote about my summer vacation to Chattanooga, Tennessee. A mini article about my biggest inspiration. A hand-drawn advertisement for "Happy Feet 2", which had its theatrical release a year prior. A critic's corner detailing the best book I had ever read. And a fascinating fact box about all things me.
Sound familiar?
Looking back, it's crazy to think that I caught a small glimpse into the path that I would eventually tread. And it got me thinking just how much destiny plays a role in life.
At the age of 9, I had no idea what journalism was. To tell you the truth, I probably had never even seen a newspaper before either.
In fact, on that very same poster, I wrote that I wanted to be an artist.
They say that life has a way of getting what it wants when it wants it, and I genuinely believe that's the case for me.
Everyone went through a phase in their life when they wanted to be everything under the sun: an astronaut, a chef, a scientist, a doctor, a nurse, a teacher, a dancer, a musician, you name it. Though I was also on the artsy side, there's no doubt that a love for reading and writing was always in the background.
In my free time, when I wasn't doing homework or hanging out with my friends, you could find me writing songs, scripts, journals or even creative pieces.
In a way, I feel life was subconsciously preparing me for the moment I grew up and finally found my true passion. It wasn't until I was graduating from high school that I even considered the possibility that being a writer or journalist would be my career.
I guess my creativity manifested in that way, and it was always meant to be.
From a simple school assignment to becoming the Local Editor of a newspaper at just 22 years old, I think it's safe to say that I was destined to be here.
