The amazing power of words

Tamica Theus

By Tamica Theus
Spring 2003 Scholar

Posted: May 13, 2003

What I like most about being a journalist is the fact that every day is filled with people, action and ideas.

Every day I am right in the midst of it all, recording history in the making.

Every day is filled with finding new ways to tickle, incite or broaden the perspectives of my readers.

The power of words is something that never can be underestimated. Sometimes, a journalist may find that an article has touched his reader in an unsuspecting way.

My first "article" actually was excerpts from an essay that I wrote giving my opinion of U.S. presidential candidates when I was in the eighth grade.

Suddenly, people who I had had only limited conversations with were having real conversations -- my neighbors, the mailman, the pastor at my church and even the janitor at my school. Everyone wanted to tell me what they thought. Some shared stories of the segregation era and history that they had lived through.

It was then that I realized the power of words. It was amazing.

And I’ll never put my pen down again.

Tamica Theus is a Spring 2003 Scholar at The Santa Fe New Mexican. She is California State University-Long Beach graduate. Reach her at mstheus@yahoo.com.

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