Sumter Item Next Gen News editor Maple says 3 years in, many more to go

I used to believe life was something you could plan - step by step with each decision building toward a future carefully crafted to meet every desire my teenage heart longed for.

But life had its own plans, ones that involved unraveling mine thread by thread and replacing them with twists, detours and moments I'd never anticipated and now wouldn't trade for the world.

One being the phone call with Publisher Vince Johnson that plays in my head on days when I need a reminder of how I started in this industry. Though I've always had a knack for writing, the one topic I steered clear of was sports. Which is why stumbling upon a sports reporter application for The Sumter Item seemed way out of my league. But when I questioned if I should, that meek voice in my head said, "Why not?"

When Vince called and said, "We see something different for you," I would have never thought different meant destined. I started on Oct. 1, 2021, five months removed from college life - COVID-19 style, lacking true work experience and equal parts eager and nauseated at starting my first big-girl job. I walked into 36 W. Liberty St. greeted by smiling faces and newspaper front pages that detailed a long lineage. At the ripe age of 21, I didn't know if I was the right fit to help keep that lineage alive - but I planned to give it all I have. And I got a lot more than I gave these past three years.

My love for writing adventures grew into a passion for fostering connections. Whether it be introducing our community to a new, friendly face or familiarizing them with the ones who patrol our streets every day, documenting how our next generation has a good head on their shoulders (no matter how hard it is to decipher their everchanging slang) and sharing how pain felt across our community fuels our purpose to fight for a better future, whatever the journey is, I am honored to be one of the hands our readers hold to form those connections.

My reluctance to be in the spotlight turned into a desire to lead. And that may be self-centered of me, but leading is not all about taking charge. A leader can simply be someone designated to listen, to confide in and bounce ideas off of. A leader can be someone who is needed in times of turmoil to quiet the fray and make sense of the chaos. A leader can be someone who sets the tone and keeps the tempo. A leader can be what you need them to be, and that's what I've wanted to be for our newsroom, our company and our community. I have a desire to lead in any capacity they need me because I know there is so much more for us to accomplish, together.

My need for learning has fueled my commitment to be better. In this line of work, I've learned that your comfort zone is the last place you should be. True growth, the kind that leaves you reeling long after the experience is over, blown away and beyond proud of yourself, is what you should strive for. That no matter how nerve wracking it may be in the moments before and overwhelming it is when you're in the thick of it, neither will compare to how blissful the success feels, looks and, for journalists, reads when you've conquered what you once thought was impossible. Learning about new beats, new skills, new terminology, new people and new places not only benefits our readers, but also myself as I become a well-rounded community member. And who wants to be one dimensional?

In my life plans, scribbled in countless high school notebooks and talked about in circles with my best friends, I always wanted to be a resource to Sumter. Even if I were to leave, I wanted to come back and give to the community who made me who I am. And though the timeline may be off by a few years, I'm right where I want to be - need to be - being exactly what it is I'm destined to be.

For this National Newspaper Week, we're supposed to tell our stories. Mine would be nothing without Sumter. Being a journalist isn't about writing stories; it's about becoming a bridge between voices, weaving the threads of our community into something whole. It's knowing that every story holds a part of someone's life and every headline is a piece of someone's truth. Throughout these three years, I've come to realize that what I do goes far beyond facts on a page - it's about trust and holding space for people's moments, struggles and triumphs. Those connections, those voices I've had the privilege to share, they're not just part of the job; they're part of me. And wherever life leads, I carry these stories and these people in my heart.

In the end, being a journalist is more than a career - it's a bond, a promise that the journey is always worth it.

Alaysha Maple is Next Generation news editor and covers arts and entertainment and public safety for The Sumter Item.