By Jennifer M. Drummond

I originally didn’t plan to attend the 2014 National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Conference in Greenville, SC. Since I received a scholarship (so thankful!) and it was close enough for me to drive from Richmond, I put aside my fears and committed to the event.

As if the scholarship was not enough, NFPW gave me a mentor for the conference—Sherrie Simmonds of Alaska. She reached out to me via email and let me know she would be my guide and a dependable resource. Having a mentor was an unexpected added bonus. If nothing else felt right, I had the assurance that someone whom I’d just met was there to help me feel welcome and part of the group.

All first-timers were designated as such with yellow name tags. In contrast, all others wore purple, green and yellow ribbons attached to their name tags. As a first-timer, I was part of an elite group showered with attention, care and curiosity.

So many attendees came, greeted each other like old friends and caught up since the last time. Lucky for me, I had my mentor, Sherrie, who—from the start—took the time to get to know me and answered question after question. Her bright smile and outgoing personality worked to perfection, drawing members to her right and left.

I felt a genuine warmth and friendliness from everyone I met, I believe, due to my mentor. We sat at the same table during the breakfast and dinner sessions. We took a picture, compliments of a pretty cool photo shoot available to all attendees.

The workshops had excellent presenters, and I walked away enlightened, equipped and inspired. The workshop I liked best was called, “Developing Your Digital Impact – Are You a Social Butterfly?” The breaks between workshops gave us time to get to know each other and to talk about topics well beyond those covered in the workshop.

While I did spend a little time with my Virginia delegation, I spent the majority of my time with Sherrie. Also, I shared some Asian-style appetizers – and a hearty helping of laughter –with her family that was visiting the area.

Last year I worked with some at-risk kids at my church through a program designed for them. I learned the importance of trust, consistency and respect, and just how much those youth needed and deserved those things. I saw the same qualities from my mentor and others at the NFPW Conference.

Next time at NFPW, I will be a mentor. I learned from someone who knew how and saw how much difference it can make to a newcomer.