Y dream, for as long I can remember, is to become a journalist. My journalistic hopes were realised, in part, this summer, thanks to Wolmer’s High School and the Jamaica Observer.

It was a sunny July 8 and I felt nervous, yet confident, as I entered the Observer’s headquarters in Kingston. I felt a bit out of place too because I was wearing a gold shirt (‘repping’ Wolmer’s), while everyone else was decked in blue. After a word with a kind security guard, I took a seat in the lobby of the main office, soon to be joined by some university interns and fellow-Wolmerian Brandon Bartlett.

We were escorted to the training room of the Human Resources Department by the beautiful and friendly receptionist Marsha where we had a small orientation meeting with human resources officers Jason Brown, Christopher Johnson and a Etta-Mae Fenton. Much to my liking, I was placed in the Editorial Department and subsequently assigned by the energetic Executive Editor — Operations Karl Angell to the Crime/Court Desk, under the supervision of the informed and superb desk editor Karyl Walker.

My first assignment, which was to be undertaken on my second day of work, was to accompany the exceptional Tanesha Mundle to cover the Vybz Kartel murder trial at the Supreme Court. This assignment in itself was a dream come true, as I had always wished to observe court proceedings.

I garnered quite a bit of knowledge about various court processes, including jury selection, etc. This was helped by the mentorship of the smooth and cool co-ordinator of the Crime/Court Desk, Paul Henry.

I also met interesting people, including journalists Rohan Powell of the RJR Communications Group, veteran Gleaner court reporter Barbara Gayle, Abka Fitz-Henley from Nationwide News Network, journalists from CVM-TV, and other media houses.

I also met high-riding attorneys from the private bar, such as Tom Tavares-Finson and his son, Christian and Tameka Harris, among others. I also met representatives of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and court staffers, including clerks and police officers, who even recognised me outside of court.

My court adventures also took me to a Resident Magistrate’s Court, with Mundle. I always looked forward to going to a Corporate Area court, because — apart from the really interesting stories — Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey’s acute sense of humour always had me in stitches.

I wrote quite a bit of court stories, including my first published, ‘Brassiere drama in court’, (which was a big hit);and ‘Four men kept in jail over ganja find’.

Another of my court stories that I’m extremely proud of is, ‘Woman stabs sister over plate’, which was read by the renowned Barbara Gloudon on her Hotline programme on RJR 94 FM.

I learnt a lot about court writing from Mundle and we were like “partners in crime”.

Apart from court, we shared other interesting assignments, such as the Bureau of Standards Jamaica and Wisynco signing for the use of the Jamaica-Made Mark and ODPEM’s launch of the Disaster Resilience Communities programme, from which I wrote a story entitled, ‘ODPEM, USAID join forces to build disaster resilient communities’.

Another person, who always sought to support me — more like a friend than a co-worker — is University of the West Indies intern Kimberly Hibbert. Kimmie, as I call her, gave me the first story that required working the telephone to get information. It was a follow-up to a story she did on the Jamaica Association of Taxi Owners and Operators (JATOO).

Even though it was not published, it is special to me, as I conducted my first phone interview, quizzing JATOO president Edgerton Newman. I learnt how to identify what information was considered “newsworthy” out of all that was said.

Kimberly also schooled me on how to interact with fellow co-workers. One special person she introduced me to was Nadine Wilson. I could call on Nadine at any time and she would stop what she was doing to help or give a listening ear. I got two of my most memorable assignments from Nadine, which resulted in the stories titled, ‘How to make the most of your summer internship’ and ‘Jamaicans urged to pay more attention to literacy’.

The latter story was my first solo assignment covering an event, which was the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning’s Opportunity fair. I got huge thumbs up on that story from Petulia Clarke, the editor in charge of that section of the newspaper.

One story I and co-writer, the humble, but hugely talented Kimmo Matthews, got high praises for was the story about businessman Michael Ammar, helping homeless people downtown. ‘$50 per week: Homeless line up for coins from Kgn businessman’ was the headline. An editorial praising Ammar’s initiative, said, “perhaps we owe a debt of gratitude to two enterprising reporters, Messrs Kimmo Matthews and Aldane Walters”.

I subsequently wrote another story about helping the homeless, highlighting the work of a church group from Tivoli Gardens, which feed the less fortunate every Wednesday night in downtown. That story is really special to me, as I exercised my ‘journalistic eye’ and followed Kimmo’s advice in identifying the story. When I mentioned it in a meeting, I got the go-ahead to do the story and covered it with expert photographer Garfield Robinson. Even though there was some concern about the time of the assignment, I reassured editor Arlene Martin-Wilkins that it was no problem. It was awesome, and I got a whole page for that story on Independence Day!

Another of my human-interest stories was the one highlighting the plight of the residents in my home community of Yallahs, St Thomas. Residents had to go a full week without water. That story entitled, ‘It is a disgrace! Yallahs residents desperate for clean piped water’ was published in the Observer North and East section.

One of the most popular stories I wrote is ‘Seaga blames failed education system for society’s injustices’. It was the top story on the website that day, barring the stories about Asafa Powell and the doping scandal.

I also got the opportunity to cover a private scholarship award ceremony held by singing sensation, Cherine. The story I wrote about that assignment was published as a spread, on facing pages, in the teenAGE Observer.

I was also charged with what I considered a privilege to do the background research for our coverage of the Moscow World Championships.

No doubt, one of the highlights of my experience was when renowned fashion and lifestyle personality, senior associate editor Novia McDonald-Whyte, gave me kudos for my grooming during my last editors’ meeting. She said, “I must commend him on his grooming. He is, perhaps, the best groomed intern I have seen since I’ve been here.” The Mission Catwalk judge also commended me on my level of work, as did almost all of my co-workers. After the meeting she offered words of wisdom and encouragement, coupled with more high praises.

I was having a blast at the Observer, with everyone being so supportive, and myself doing so well. But then the calendar said August 2. It was time for me to go. I sat and reminisced about my experience. Was this for real? I thought.

Did I really get to live out my lifelong dream? At 15 years old!

This must be a dream, I thought, and then I pinched myself. I felt it. I pinched myself again, and then I realised that this was not a dream. It was reality.

Thank you, Jamaica Observer.

Editor’s note: We enjoyed having you Aldane. Welcome to the teenAGE Observer team!