Realizing why we do, what we do

From an early age, we are told do something you love to do and you’ll never work a day in your life. Well, that sentiment certainly rings true in the journalism field. I’ve covered in-depth investigative stories, events, crime, sporting events and much more since I started my journalism career in 2018. The one area I can say I thoroughly enjoy writing and reporting on are the human interest or feature stories.

When I was going to school in Oshkosh, I reported on a gentleman who had struggled with addiction his whole life. He told me about a time he was so low that he was going to commit suicide and his cat brushed up against his leg and saved his life.

I’ve had the opportunity to write stories that have similarly pulled at the heart strings including meeting the Aguilera family and specifically Ayden earlier this fall. Last week, was yet another one of those opportunities.

I interviewed a trio of men who have been essential to the Colby football program and its reign of success over the past 30-plus years. It wasn’t so much that these men had incredible overcoming stories, but instead, they’re just impressive human beings.

I knew Jim Hagen when I was in middle school. He was my vice principal and to be honest, I was terrified to talk to him. I was a kid who didn’t want to get in trouble. I prided myself on doing what was asked of me and staying out of trouble. If I was talking to Jim, it meant I was in trouble. I then grew up and knew him as a football coach and principal before graduating. Getting to sit down with him for a half hour interview taught me a lot of who he is as a person. Likewise, sitting down with Robbie Smazal and Jeff Rosemeyer was similar even if for shorter amounts of time. It showed that football can build a brotherhood between players, coaches and those surrounding a program. The story got a little long. I apologize for that, but you can blame those three guys for giving me good stories and thoughts about Jim’s career. I think they did a great job looking back on his career with a sense of reflection but also they were proud of what they’ve accomplished as a group. The interview, the writing process, gathering information on past playoff and state teams and everything else that went with the article reminded me why I do what I do.

Speeding

Through

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ife