By Kelly Caldwell

Things have been pretty interesting in my life lately. This time a year ago I was a news hound for the Alexander City Outlook. Newspapers have been my life for a long time, I started taking pictures for The Randolph Leader when I was a senior at Handley High School. Now, 10 years later, I am no longer a journalist.

I have traded in my handy-dandy reporters notebook and the craziness of being a journalist for real estate contracts and the craziness of being an agent.

For those that have worked with Advantage Realty in the past, you may notice a similarity in the brokers last name and my own. Thats right, Leisel Caldwell and I are mother and daughter. I know, big shocker. But, you see since before I could walk, my mom has been in real estate in Randolph County, and now I have convinced myself (somewhat) that I want to follow in her footsteps.

I left my comfort zone of newspapers in November even though I had begun to make a name for myself. I had covered murder trials, hostage situations and even interviewed a celebrity or two.

I guess the biggest question some of you may be wondering is why the switch. Well to be honest, I havent quite figured it out myself. I do know that newspaper life is not as glamorous as one might think, and I was beginning to get bored with the day to day stuff. (Its not every day a hostage situation happens.) I have been watching my mom for all these years selling real estate and decided, what the heck, it might be fun.

Well, I can tell you this much so far… I am not bored with the day to day stuff. It is definitely challenging, and I love the fact that it is a little bit like newspapers. I am still writing (youre reading exhibit A), I get to meet people from all walks of life and my schedule can change with one phone call.

So regardless of the perceived excitement I left behind, change is good for everyone and this is one change that has surprises around every corner.  I guess we will have to wait and see what comes next.

Kelly Caldwell joined Advantage Realty in November 2005 and became an agent in January.