It wasn't until my eighth-grade year at Kankakee Junior High School that I realized writing was something I enjoyed.

My brilliant and comical English and literature arts teacher, Ms. Peters, urged everyone in her class to write with a purpose.

I didn't really understand what she meant.

As a junior in high school, I was anxious and headstrong. I was ready to become a real reporter. So, I joined the publications class that the Kankakee High School offers, that is taught by Ms. Wells.

This is the class that generates the school's newspaper and yearbook.

Finally, in September 2007, I was awarded my chance to be a reporter.

There was a school board meeting being held at Lincoln Cultural Center about former Kankakee School District 111 Superintendent Dr. Brian Ali.

Rumors were flying whether or not Ali would be fired, and the community was anxious to know what was going on.

I attended the first of many board meetings as a concerned student and community member.

When I arrived at the center, the number of people that I saw in the school was overwhelming. Mothers, fathers, sisters, cousins, brothers, grandparents, teachers, preachers and many more were there.

Among the crowd stood Jon Krenek, a reporter for The Daily Journal, talking to people and asking questions.

Jon and I had met previously in my publications class, where he was always willing to help the students in any way that he could. He spotted me, and he immediately urged me to act like a reporter and start asking questions.

Although this was my first time reporting, I was everything but nervous.

There was no time to be nervous, these people wanted their voices heard, and it was my job to make sure that they were.

At this point, I knew exactly what my eighth-grade teacher meant.

In order to write with a purpose, you must be able to inform your audience, by accurately gathering all your facts and quotes and turning them into a story.

That story of Ali landed on the front page of the Keynote, the Kankakee High School newspaper.

Even though the byline read Symone Jordan, there was no way that story could have been written without Jon Krenek.

For the rest of my junior and senior year in high school, Krenek was a mentor. Guiding me and my fellow classmates through the world of writing. Krenek brought much needed advice to my class, as an established reporter.

In the fall of 2009, I set out to Illinois State University on what would be an amazing year. Then, this summer through the Put Illinois To Work program, I came back to the idea of reporting when there was a job opening at The Daily Journal.

On June 3, I hurriedly walked in circles around downtown Kankakee, searching for the entrance to The Daily Journal.

I was late. The interview had been canceled, but I could not give up now.

There stood, Jon Krenek. He literally saved me.

Once again, he took me under his wing, as he did in high school, and told me to follow him into the building so my interview could start.

Walking into the newsroom, I glanced at all of the reporters and photographers. I thought to myself, this is an intense work environment.

The interview was something I had never experienced before. Mike Frey, Rachael Reynolds-Soucie, Susy Schultz and Jon Krenek all interviewed me -- four editors who are very skilled at their jobs.

When managing editor Susy Schultz entered the room, I knew she was all about business. I knew I had to answer the questions honestly.

I must have done something right because I got the job.

I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I would have to work as hard as I possibly could.

Once again, Jon Krenek and I were back at it -- as editor and reporter.

After the first couple of articles, I realized high school writing was no longer accepted. All facts must be accurate, every name must be spelled correctly, and triple checking information is something that is done often.

Struggling with writing articles led me to write better ones.

There would be times where it would take me over an hour just to come up with a lead for a story.

However, I never doubted myself.

Susy Schultz once told me that the lead captures the audience, and from that point on I focused a lot more on my lead.

This summer, I have written briefs, articles, lists and I have made many phone calls. I also had the opportunity to work with Phil Angelo -- someone I always wanted to meet.

Two articles that touched me the most were writing about the Kankakee Relay For Life, and about Cliff and June Hayman, who celebrated their 70th anniversary.

This job has truly been life changing.

I have learned to always expect the unexpected and that no goal is unreachable. I have grown as a young adult and as a writer.

Soon, I will be leaving The Daily Journal to continue my education at Illinois State University, where I am a sophomore and special education major.

Even though I will not pursue journalism as a career, I will take EVERYTHING that Jon Krenek, Susy Schultz, Rachel Reynolds-Soucie, Phil Angelo and what everyone else here showed me, on to my future students.

But it's not goodbye. You will see me again. I promise. My goal is to come back to my hometown, teach kindergarten and coach high school cheerleading.

Symone Jordan is a summer intern for The Daily Journal. She can be reached at (815) 937-3379 or by e-mail at sjordan@daily-journal.com.