BY JAKE THOMPSON
jcthomps@go.olemiss.edu
When I came to Ole Miss in the fall of 2010, I had no idea what was awaiting me in the next three years. I decided to become a journalism major with aspirations of a career as a sports writer, which is a tough goal to achieve. Little did I know how close I was to accomplishing that.
Towards the end of my first semester, a teacher asked me if she could recommend me to The Daily Mississippian as she felt my writing was worthy of being on staff there. I didn’t see what she was talking about as I had not become confident in my writing skills just yet, but figured I needed the experience and said sure.
I started out in the campus/city news section and worked for Cain Madden, who was the editor at the time. I took any assignments I could get, ranging from a miracle poison ivy pill to covering a pharmaceutical symposium. Let’s just say neither were in my wheelhouse, but it helped me become a better writer in the process.
After a year of covering news under my belt, I finally made my way to the sports section, every college male journalist’s goal. Of course, I did not get the popular beats like football, basketball or baseball since I was the new kid on the block, but that did not bother me because I was covering Ole Miss sports. Who cared what sport it was, I had my foot in the door and was not going to let it shut on me.
I have enjoyed my time as a sports writer for The DM. It has opened many other doors for me and given me opportunities that would not have been available otherwise. I was able to witness Pat Summit walk the court for one of her very last times when the Lady Volunteers came to Ole Miss last season during my tenure as the women’s basketball beat writer. I was able to witness up close the complete makeover of the Ole Miss athletics department.
My sports writing experience helped me become the sports editor for The Ole Miss this year, and I was able to write about Ole Miss winning an SEC Championship in basketball, which will always be one of the highlights of my college career.
I will forever be grateful for the time I spent as a writer for The Daily Mississippian and the friends I made during my time there.
Hotty Toddy!
