"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

It is a question that is asked every time you apply for any job in print journalism – maybe it is asked in other professions, I wouldn't know.

For those that are driven with goals of becoming a reporter with a star beat especially in sports where you can cover a professional or college team, you know where you want to be.
The first time I was asked that question, I gave an honest answer: "I just want to be happy."

Being the son of immigrant farm workers, I saw my father work in the fields of the San Joaquin Valley from sunrise to beyond sunset for minimum wage and no overtime. If he could have found something else to do with more pay, no doubt he'd do it. Whatever it was, it would beat working in the fields where temperatures can sometimes rise above 110 degrees. It was clear to me that work goals, while they are nice to have and should help you advance your career, should not be the most important focus in life.

I could tell that the sports editor sitting across from me never heard or anticipated ever hearing that answer. He quickly asked me to amplify my answer. "And what would make you happy?"

Again I shocked him when I said just writing about high school teams and filling in elsewhere is what I would be doing as long as I was happy.

I always knew my role. I never had a star personality; I was always a role player trying to make the best of my situation. I show up and do my job with all the little things in between. Fax machine jammed: I'm on it. Someone has questions about the computer program: I'm there. Punch yourself real hard on the side of the head: … maybe I am not that committed. It has been 5 years since I first answered the question. In striving to attain my one goal I have made a lot of friends and have learned a lot of lessons. I have been praised and have been told never to work for another newspaper again when I was fired from my last job.

However, reaching your goals is never a straight line. There will be peaks that will make you think you're about to touch the sky and valleys where it seems light can't escape.

But if survive the voyage you will find what you are looking for.

And five years later, I have never been happier.