It doesn’t matter which way you take, just as long as you can get to where you need to go.

And in my case, I took a left turn at Albuquerque.

Bugs Bunny references aside, Monday starts the final leg of a journey roughly eight years in the making.

For those that don’t know, I’m one of the lucky Tennessee residents to be part of the Tennessee Reconnect program. With two more semesters to go, I’ll be able to proudly walk across the stage on commencement day with an associate’s degree in hand, something that isn’t exactly common in my immediate family tree.

I went the opposite route to the journalism profession. I was able to get in during my freshman year at East Tennessee State University with the Erwin Record as a freelancer. That’s when the reporting bug officially got a hold of me.

But my guidance was out of whack. My grandfather was a key influence in my life, and he passed away less than a month before I got the job. Other than my grandparents, my family life wasn’t that great. I thought I knew best, so instead of seeking help from the school, I focused solely on my professional career to take my mind off family issues.

For six years (2010-16), it was a delicate balance.

Pros: Worked just about every job possible for a paper, freelanced everywhere in the region, worked for a national outlet, won TPA awards for sports coverage, reporting, and photography and even dabbled some in radio.

Cons: Reporting isn’t precisely $$$ heavy, especially in Northeast Tennessee. Every time I thought I could get ahead, I’d get knocked back even further. We had a row of van seats inside the Erwin Record that were taken out of the paper van. Many a night, I’d have to sleep at the office on that row with a throw blanket and use the armrest as a pillow.

When “homelessness” started to trickle in the ol’ noggin, that’s when the wheels started churning.

My circle of friends didn’t know about the situation. It was in 2016 the ball starting rolling forward. I accepted a position with the Elizabethton Star to try to better myself as a writer, and my friends became more of a family, and we all started to stay together.

Things were getting back on track, but issues still started to pop up. I would go 90 to nothing professionally to take my mind off things. I was knocking out five to six stories a day, but with so many ideas floating around, I knew it wasn’t healthy. Not enough time to proofread responsibly. Not enough time to sit back and relax. I was living off fast food from the late nights and long days.

But that’s when Reconnect entered the fray (huge thanks to McKenzie Todd for the help with everything on that), and 2017 is when the ball got rolling. It was time to get the education knocked out — and shed the reporter weight. Last two semesters were great, and I was able to drop over 100 pounds in over a year. So at least I can say progress has been made.

Are issues still floating around though? Of course. I always try to do too much, and it ends up hurting me in the long run. There have been some typos I’ve done that’s nearly made me puke, and I’ve been late to classes. It hasn’t been easy at all. An already hectic work schedule with school… I’ve become Monster Energy Drink’s most favored customer in the area.

Thankfully I have a great support system and have a supporter up above who wanted me to finish my schooling. The sky’s the limit, and I’m beyond excited for what’s ahead.

The road for my journey has been bendy, winding, and had its fair share of dead ends.

Even with the ups and downs, I wouldn’t trade away any of my experiences. The past eight years has allowed me to develop a love for a profession, experience athletic coverage at the highest stage, coordinate with some of the best in the state and share so many stories with only more to come. All the rough spots have just helped fuel the fire and give me a building block of the dos and don’ts for my future family.

And thanks to a “reconnect” … I can see the road sign for my final stop on the horizon.

Curtis is an award-winning journalist and photographer from Northeast Tennessee. He can be reached either via email at curtis.carden@elizabethton.com or by phone at (423) 297-9057.