The day I learned the five Ws of storytelling, was the day my life suddenly had meaning. Uncovering the who, what, when, where, and why of a story gave me purpose and direction like I had never known before. Most kids go through a phase where “why” suddenly becomes the only word in their vocabulary. I wasn’t like most kids. I never outgrew my need to know the “why” of something. And once I had permission to dive deeper with the addition of who, what, where, and when, my future as a storyteller was sealed.

All those years of being mistaken for nosy when really I was just a dynamic journalist in child-form finally paid off when I found myself face to face with Oprah Winfrey on the red carpet of the SELMA movie in Selma, Alabama. She touched me, ya’ll! Mama Oprah put her made-of-sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice hand on my unworthy shoulder, looked me in the eye, and answered my questions.

Thankfully, I didn’t faint or stutter or bring shame on my family and my ancestors. Take a look at my life’s crowning achievement.