One of my first jobs was at the Boston Globe. I worked in the sports department six months a year. When I was ready to graduate, the sports editor gave me a job as a schoolboy sports writer.

McDonough is recalling an early, formative step in his journalism career: getting a foothold at a major metropolitan newspaper through seasonal/part-time work and then being offered a more defined beat. The details emphasize apprenticeship—learning the rhythms of a newsroom, earning trust, and moving from general help in a department to a bylined role (“schoolboy sports writer”). The quote also highlights how local, youth, or school sports reporting can function as a proving ground for larger sportswriting careers, underscoring the importance of mentorship (the sports editor’s offer) and institutional gateways like the Boston Globe in shaping a writer’s trajectory.