By Shawna Freeman Lane
One year before I entered business school as an MBA student, I was an eager and passionate student journalist who was months away from graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
As an editor of my university newspaper, I wrote about campus life, community and local business.
In that role, I met people from all walks of life who were doing great things in the world, from starting their own businesses to traveling the world to aid those harmed in the disasters, like the 2011 tsunami in Japan.
However, at the local city newspaper where I was an intern, I was assigned to the crime beat.
While there, I quickly found the crime focus was not for the fainthearted.
Each day, I found it harder and harder to get up and go to my internship, to be seated in court behind grieving families and to interview the local police departments regarding murders or break-ins.
At that point, I felt it was time for a career change before my career had even gotten started.
But was it too late? …
This article was originally published in the print edition of the Federal Way Mirror on April 13, 2018.
About the Author
Shawna Freeman Lane is a faculty member and the department coordinator for the Highline College Business department. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2011 and a master’s degree in business administration from Augusta State University in 2013. She is currently completing a doctorate in business administration from California Southern University. She enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her husband, Eric, their daughter, Mary Sophia, and their soon-to-be-born girl, Kennedy.
About Highline Voices
Highline Voices brings a range of diverse perspectives to our community, featuring the expertise of Highline College staff and faculty. Read other articles in the Highline Voices series that began in 2016. All Highline employees are welcome to contribute to the series. Email Tanya Powers or Kari Coglon Cantey for guidelines.