In 2004, Editor-in-Chief Garfield Grandison decided to revamp the structure of the product by incorporating a team of teen writers. The aim was to make the product a magazine and not a miniature newspaper. We wanted it to reflect the lifestyle of teens in a multifaceted way, from politics to fashion.

In our embryonic stage we were inundated with work and we all felt we had something to prove, not just to our readers but also to ourselves. The team came early every Saturday, and while the sun was setting on the office walls writers were still doing their stories. On Saturdays, Youthlink duties pre-empted everything else; that's the sacrifice we made.

The team had an incandescent love for the product. Whether it was finding a party promoter, a store owner or an outstanding student, members would go the extra mile to get the work done. It seemed as though they were impervious to rejection or negative criticism. If an interview had to be done, they got it done by any means.

Our first group meeting took place the first week in August, 2004. I was surprised to see how quickly we developed an impenetrable synergy. Every week, we would analyze about five teen magazines, both local and international. We believed having a heterogeneous collection would enable us to come up with the best ideas. After nine months, the survey results were in. We were the undisputed champion teen magazine!

Despite this accomplishment, it was our time away from work that proved most memorable. On our first trip, we journeyed to Starfish Hotel (now Breezes Resort and Spa). It was an enervating three-hour drive and my acute case of motion sickness made my outlook rather dim. Nonetheless, the writers kept everyone entertained; Tyrone started crowing some Percy Sledge, then Dwayne followed with his rendition of Ben E. King's Stand by Me. When the microphone came to me, I joyfully sang every word of Otis Redding's I've Got Dreams To Remember, off key!

The trip truly made us feel like a family, especially coming back to Kingston. We left Starfish so late that the driver had to drop everyone home and while they were comfortably resting, I had my phone to my ears assuring parents that we were OK, just running a little late. When we finally dropped off the last person it was about 12:30 a.m. Naturally, I was exhausted but our morale was at an all-time high.

It was a meeting day worth sacrificing, coupled with the fact that it was Christmas Eve.

The following week, we had full attendance at our New Year's Eve meeting even though it wasn't mandatory, given the nature of the season, but that was the type of workers we were.

Six years later I'm happy to know that this spirit is still effervescent. Youthlink lives on!