So, as 2012 nears its end, I — like everyone else, I assume — find myself evaluating my productivity over the last 12 months.

I’ve put another year under my belt in my two decades-plus journalism career and feel it’s been a good one.

I’ve kept busy by not only writing stories, taking photos, laying out pages and helping to maintain a website — I’ve challenged myself to go above and beyond the call of duty in each one of those areas.

Have you done the same?

Not only completed your job, but went the extra mile to try and make a good effort an amazing one? Something that you can look back on and be proud of?

I’ve certainly tried to do this. I won’t say that I’ve done anything extraordinary, but I’ve attempted to make an impact on readers with my tasks here at the Redmond Reporter. I hope you’ve enjoyed what reporter Samantha Pak and I (and former editor Bill Christianson, of course) have put in front of you each week with our print copy and each day with our website offerings.

One of the toughest things I’ve encountered in my career was taking over Christianson’s spot. He’d been here five years and really made his mark on the community. As the new guy, I felt some pressure taking over his spot — I hope I’ve lived up to his name in the Redmond area.

Switching back to a weekly paper was another challenge. At the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter, I put out two papers a month for the 18 months prior to moving into the Redmond editor spot in September. I handled the weekly workload before Bothell-Kenmore switched its game plan, and I’m glad to be back with a weekly. Deadlines were tough at first, but that feeling is long gone. I’m all set in Redmond.

I’m looking forward to 2013 and the challenges that await.

We’ll keep things rolling over here and encourage readers to let us know how we’re doing and send story ideas and letters to the editor our way.

We’ll see you around town.