It was 10 years ago that I graduated from Ben Franklin High. Attached to my name: a great grade point average, all-City, all-Public and all-Division honors, not to mention some great scholarship offers from some Division I schools. For a high school senior, I had it all.

  The best thing I had going for me was a vision. Not for an NFL team or NCAA All-American honors, but for a career in journalism!

  Even before high school, I knew I wanted to be a journalist and now . . . I am living out my dream. Far away from Philadelphia, I now make my home in Lubbock, TX!

  I am a reporter at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Here I cover police activity Monday through Friday and on weekends, I help with the coverage of the Texas Tech football team!

  The most important thing about my life is I am happy and I am making a great living while furthering my journalism career.

  No ducking bullets, no arrests, no late nights hanging on the corner, no problems.

  It is possible to leave the city limits of Philadelphia and enjoy a beautiful life. Even if you don’t want to leave the city, you must always live out your dreams and settle for nothing less.

  You owe it to yourself.

  Thanks for reading and all the best!

  -- Andre Taylor
  (When I was at Franklin, I told Ted I was going to take his job in 2016 and he even put that in the paper! LOL. We'll see what happens.)