2017 has proved to be an eventful year, and we're just over two months into it. At the end of 2016, I drove all the way from Michigan back to Texas to photograph one last assignment for the Kalamazoo Gazette -- the Cotton Bowl, on the second day of the new year. Football has always been my favorite sport to shoot. I've shot a lot of games over the past few years, but this was my first time shooting a college bowl game. It was hard work, but it was an absolute blast, and I got to shoot it with Bryan, the other 2016 intern at the Gazette, which made it an even more special memory. After that game though, I didn't know what was next. I had some interviews and many more applications waiting for internships and staff positions, but nothing set in stone quite yet. I was anxious about what was in store for my year. Thankfully I didn't have to wait too long, because by mid-January, I had an offer to join the Tyler Morning Telegraph as a multimedia journalist. After a month of house-hunting and trying to get a house full of furniture for a new place, I started working full time on February 15th. It's only been a few weeks, but it's been a great ride thus far. The team and the community have been nothing but helpful, friendly and encouraging. I'm enjoying the variety of daily work and excited to get started on some project work too. Slowly but surely getting into the groove of a new workflow and am looking forward to getting to know the people of Tyler and exploring Northeast Texas. You probably came here to look at pictures instead of read my ramblings, so here are photos from the Cotton Bowl and my first few weeks at the Tyler Morning Telegraph. - CP The Kilgore Rangerettes pose for a photo during media day prior to the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. Western Michigan Jamauri Bogan (32) runs the ball during the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Western Michigan quarterback Zach Terrell (11) points up in the air as he runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis (84) is tackled by Wisconsin free safety Leo Musso (19) after completing a pass during the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck, second from left, stands with his team during a timeout during the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Wisconsin's Troy Fumagalli (81) and Western Michigan's Darius Phillips (4) during a play at the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Wisconsin and Western Michigan players scramble to pick up what was thought to be a fumbled ball during the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Western Michigan wide receiver Carrington Thompson (15) holds up the ball to signal that he has made a complete pass despite being tackled by Wisconsin cornerback Derrick Tindal (25) during the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan.2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Wisconsin wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87) runs the ball during the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Wisconsin running back Dare Ogunbowale (23) runs the ball during the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Wisconsin tight end Eric Steffes (44) celebrates a touchdown with a teammate as Western Michigan linebacker Caleb Bailey (8) looks on after the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Wisconsin running back Corey Clement (6) throws confetti on head coach Paul Chryst as he is interviewed by ESPN during the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Wisconsin's Caesar Williams (18) celebrates in confetti after the 81st annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16. Cameron Hiatt, 19, of St. George, Utah, and Hunter Hatch, 18, of Heber City, Utah, walk around downtown Tyler, Texas, on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. Hiatt and Hatch are missionaries with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and are serving Whitehouse and Bullard on their mission. Panola College sophomore Denasia Watson (12) prepares to pass the ball during a Region XIV college basketball game at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017. The Panel College Ponies beat the Tyler Junior College Apaches 75-70. Junior basketball players Jared Jackson, Shane Thomas and Jones Ard pose for a portrait at Troup High School in Troup, Texas, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017. Tyler Lee players warm up during the Rose City Classic at Mike Carter Field in Tyler, Texas, on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. Jelissa Zator poses for a portrait during Palestine's eighth annual Mardi Gras parade in Palestine, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Hundreds of people lined the streets to catch beads and watch floats, decorated cars and firetrucks drive along the parade route. Dusty Walker, 11, braids Brandi Hursey's, 4, hair as Dakota Kennedy, 13, rests before Palestine's eighth annual Mardi Gras parade in Palestine, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Hundreds of people lined the streets to catch beads and watch floats, decorated cars and firetrucks drive along the parade route. Camille Becton falls on Nathan Deere as part of a scene rehearsal for "A Little Theatre" at the Tyler Civic Theatre in Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017. "A Little Theatre" opens at the Tyler Civic Theatre March 3 and runs through March 12. Karen White holds a sign outside of Jack Ryan's protesting U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert's lack of town halls in Tyler, Texas, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017. About 60 Indivisible of Smith County protestors protested outside of Jack Ryan's while Gohmert was speaking at the Tyler Young Professionals Network Luncheon, and nearly half a dozen were inside protesting during his talk. Grace Kimball, 6, juggles cloths during a physical education class at the Bridgemark Center in Tyler, Texas, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Bridgemark Center specializes in education for children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. Dog trainers and their dogs wait for their time to compete during the U.S. Dog Agility Association competition hosted by the Tyler Obedience Training Club at Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas, on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Dozens of dogs competed on a variety of agility courses to win prizes. Firefighters work to get Smith County inmate Gustavo Zavala-Garcia, charged with capital murder in the case of Kayla Gomez-Orozco, off of a basketball goal on the roof of the Smith County Jail in Tyler, Texas, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017. Zavala-Garcia climbed on top of the basketball goal at the end of the inmates’ recreational time and refused to get down for about 30 minutes. Dallas Skyline senior Jaylan Gulley (1) looks to pass the ball during a 6A Region 2 area playoff game at Kaufman High School in Kaufman, Texas, on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. The Dallas Skyline Raiders beat the Robert E. Lee Raiders 52-36. A Van High School cheerleader holds onto balloons as the wind blows during lunch at Chick-Fil-A as part of a Make-A-Wish event for Ben Hall Hastings, 9, in Tyler, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Ben's wish also involved a shopping spree at Game Stop and Best Buy. Dallas Skyline sophomore Kyjai Miles (55) recovers the ball for a rebound during a 6A Region 2 area playoff game at Kaufman High School in Kaufman, Texas, on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. The Dallas Skyline Raiders beat the Robert E. Lee Raiders 52-36.