Rachel McNeill came back home when she joined Local 2 in September 2001. Her family moved to the Bayou City when she was 6 years old, after living in Galveston for two years. But she's not a native Texan -- Rachel was born in Jamaica.

Rachel is thrilled to be back home with her family and friends because her career has taken her on the road since 1995. She most recently worked in New Orleans, moving there from Raleigh, N.C.

Midland, Texas was Rachel's first television market.

Her education is pure Texan: Rachel graduated from Cypress Creek High school in northwest Houston, and she has a Broadcast Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Working at Local 2 is a dream come true. "I landed a job at the station I've watched my entire life," Rachel said.

She loves the spontaneity of reporting. "You walk in the door and you never know what story you'll be covering that day," Rachel said.

When she is not working at Local 2, Rachel volunteers her time speaking to at-risk kids of all ages at various schools and youth groups in and around Houston.

She is proud to host the Rachel McNeill "Fore the Kids!" Golf Tournament benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston, www.bbbshouston.org.

Another group close to Rachel's heart is the Zina Garrison Academy, www.zinagarrison.org. The non-profit organization provides mentoring, educational opportunities and, of course, tennis skills to children in Houston.

Rachel also volunteers with Dress for Success Houston, which helps provide interview suits, confidence boosts and career development to more than 3,000 women annually.

You can see Rachel on KPRC Local 2 News at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you would like to send Rachel an e-mail, drop her a line at rachel@click2houston.com. You may also follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rachel_mcneill.