One year ago this week, I put my byline in the Reporter for the first time in the inaugural installment of For the Love of the Game.

With nostalgia running rampant and a revitalized sense of purpose, here are a few of the most important lessons I’ve learned through the first 52 weeks.

I always knew getting to know the subjects of my stories would be crucial.

What I didn’t expect was how necessary it was to open myself up to them as well. The best information and interviews have come when the conversation became less structured and I was willing to put myself out there.

Reexamining what exactly “community news” means and looks like has been another constant evolution. In the start, I thought it meant breaking down every game situation and student-athlete in the community.

Now, telling a great sports story for a community paper is not only about shining a light on our young stars but also bringing regional and national stories to a local level.

Finding a balance has been another learning process that I continue to take steps in daily. Of course there are times when the extraneous duties of the position seem to be overwhelming the writing. But the opportunity to expand my knowledge of the industry, build a broader skill set and still get to tell great stories will never be a detriment, even if it may seem that way for a few frustrated moments.

But of all the many lessons I’ve been taught by my impossibly patient editor, tireless coworkers and veraciously loyal readers, the most important has no doubt been to keep an open mind.

There is no better example of that than this column.

In the short span of a year, it has gone from a place of complete uncertainty and trepidation in the beginning to the place I now feel the most confident.

The topics haven’t always been intrinsically tied to sports or focused on the action on the court, but I’d like to think they have provided at least a narrow window into my perspective on sports, life and the fact I’ve not yet found a way to separate the two.

The past year has been the most challenging and exciting of my life professionally. I’ve had the chance to meet inspiring people like Melodie Madison and give my thoughts on Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin.

It’s impossible to know what the next 365 days will bring.

But if they’re anything like the last 365, I’ll have plenty to write about.

For the Love of the Game is a reporter column written by sports reporter Josh Suman. Email jsuman@bellevuerporter.com or call 425-453-5045.