My experiences as a first-time Media Correspondent with the East Lake Foundation were exciting and taught me a lot about what goes on behind the scenes at the TOUR Championship, and how the community is a big part of it all.

My day at the PGA TOUR Championship began with the ceremonial HOPE Tee Shot, an annual event that reflects the hardworking young golfers of the East Lake community. Today I was lucky enough to see my teammate on the Drew Charter golf team, Jacob Smith kick off the TOUR with a drive straight down the middle of the fairway. He and his counterpart, Ariel Collins, then received $15,000 scholarships to support their academic careers and show appreciation for their hard work. Before the start of the TOUR, I had the opportunity to interview Jacob where he told me about his process of preparing for the HOPE Tee Shot, and gave me some advice for junior golfers. For the kids in the East Lake community, these realities are made possible by two organizations that invest in the success of kids at a young age: the East Lake Foundation and First Tee – Metro Atlanta. Both organizations continue to support me on my own personal golf journey.

I spent the rest of my day learning from different media personnel about the inner workings of the industry.  I had the privilege of attending the live recording of a segment on 680 The Fan, a popular local sports radio show, with Ilham Askia, the President and CEO of the East Lake Foundation. Ms. Askia mentioned the incredible work that East Lake continues to do. She talked about the legacy of the East Lake community and how plans and partnerships make constant improvements possible. Having grown up as a part of the community, I have observed the changes first hand. I also had so much fun seeing how the live television show, ATL Live is filmed, and even got to taste some of the food being reviewed.

One of my big takeaways from the day is that the media industry requires flexibility. Things are always going to be changing and you have to be able to adapt. As a junior golfer, this reflected one of my favorite things that the game has taught me. You can’t always control what happens, but you can control how you react. I also learned how Media is a big part of highlighting the community impact that the PGA TOUR Championship makes. The East Lake Foundation as well as the PGA TOUR Championship have given so many kids and community members like myself opportunities to get involved and grow.

By Paris Favors, Drew Charter School Sophomore and Varsity Golfer