The Lumen publication classes had the opportunity to meet an experienced professional in the fields of writing and journalism on March 25th.  Renee Collins, a journalism professor at Adrian College, visited the classes and shared her valuable experience and expertise in the diverse field of journalism.  She shared her life’s journey to encourage publication students to pursue a career in journalism and writing.

Collins began by explaining why she was involved with the field of journalism.  Her passion for newspapers and investigation are what primarily interested her in this field.  When her 5th grade class took a field trip to the Toledo Blade newspaper, Collins fell in love with the giant printing presses that churned out thousands of newspapers.  She also loved the smell of the printing ink that enveloped the whole building.  The other big event that influenced her aspirations of a career in journalism was the Watergate Scandal.  She was intrigued by the news specials that flooded the TV everyday and was determined to become a great investigative reporter.  Collins hoped to one day unravel government conspiracies and break pressing news stories like the journalists who investigated Watergate.

Collins began to move towards her dream slowly but surely.  She wrote for her high school and college newspapers and soon held a receptionist job at the Saline Reporter.  She worked her way up the ladder and became a journalist.  She worked at the Reporter for seventeen years but moved on to other journalism jobs until she took a post at Adrian College as a professor.  There she teaches journalism and writing classes while moderating the college’s newspaper, The College World.  When asked what journalism has to offer that no other job offers, she responded, “Great communication skills.  You get to meet a lot of interesting people, there’s always a new thing to do every day, and the skills you learn can apply to anything in the world.”

The most important lesson Renee Collins taught the class was that passion and determination about achieving one’s goals will pay-off even if you have to make a few detours on the way there.