Meet: Sherry Shephard

When I first stepped foot on campus at Grambling State University after graduating from Minden High School, I had no intentions of pursuing a degree in journalism.

Although I always loved reading — and would read just about anything I could get my hands on — and writing, I considered it more of a hobby than a career. Growing up, I enjoyed reading Reader's Digest and would often write short stories, with all the intentions of submitting those stories to the magazine. However, I never did and those short stories remained tucked away, never to be seen again.

So, when I arrived at Grambling, my goal was to pursue a career in social work or nursing — I hadn't quite decided, though I was leaning more toward nursing. But fate must have stepped in because somewhere along the way, I found myself more attracted to the idea of becoming a journalist. Or maybe it was because I suddenly realized I couldn't stand the sight of blood.

Whatever the reason, I'm thankful my career path changed and after all these years I can't imagine doing anything else. Aside from a couple of short stints in public relations, my entire career has been spent inside a newsroom — here and in East Texas. And over the years, I've had the opportunity to serve in different capacities — including copy editor/page designer, reporter, features editor, columnist and editorial writer.

My journey has allowed me to meet some interesting people and also given me the opportunity to interview some well-known folks, as well. One of the highlights of my career was when I interviewed R&B singer Keith Sweat a couple of years ago. I'm such a big fan of his but I was so nervous during the interview I could hardly ask the questions. And I'm never nervous during an interview. I also interviewed singer Tamar Braxton and rapper Diggy Simmons before their performances here. And I met actor Samuel L. Jackson when he was in Shreveport a few years ago.

In the last few years, newspapers have taken on a more digital approach to telling the news. Although it's challenging — especially for someone who has spent the bulk of their career reporting the news a certain way — it's also exciting. Sharing a story online days before it prints in the paper and optimizing it with videos and other assets is something that, up until a few years ago, I never dreamed I would be doing.

Throughout the years, I've received numerous awards and certificates for my work. And I'm thankful for each one. However, my greatest reward or sense of accomplishment is the feedback I get from people in the community whose stories I have told.

As the religion and causes reporter, I've also met some wonderful and interesting people right here. And I've learned so much more about different denominations and faiths that it's almost unbelievable. But for me, that's what this career is all about: learning new things and finding the best way to share those things with others.

So, whether it's a local pastor who continues to lead her flock while undergoing treatment for breast cancer, a Minden teenager who enters her dogs in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York or local nonprofits reaching out to those in need, each story is interesting and significant in its own way.

Everybody has a story to tell and some of the best ones can be found right in our own neighborhoods and communities. I'm just thankful I can help tell those stories.

Sherry P. Shephard is The Times' Faith and Causes Reporter. Email her at sshephard@shreveporttimes.com, or contact her on Twitter: @sshephardLIFE.