‘These are my people!’

As a 1973 first-year student, I decided to major in education just like my grandmother (who attended Oxford College for Women in the early 1900s), my two teacher sisters and my mother, who was administrator at a local school.

After my very first education class in McGuffey Hall, I walked back to my dorm, moaning mentally to myself, “These are NOT my people. I'm in the wrong major. Why did I think I'd ever want to be a teacher???”

A few weeks later, a front-page blurb on The Miami Student invited anyone interested in writing, photography, copy editing, newspaper design, graphics and ads/sales to stop by the newspaper office (then in Shriver Center, second floor) for an introductory meeting.

Within 15 minutes on that legendary Wednesday evening, I knew I'd FOUND MY PEOPLE … and I never left!

I was a reporter, copy editor and editor-in-chief throughout my four years. My Miami experience – and the 42-year career that followed in journalism, content, blogging, marketing, PR and social media consulting/crisis management – was shaped immensely by my experience with The Student.

The people, the professors, the deadlines. Journalism’s ethics. The importance of asking solid questions (and even harder follow-up questions). The immense value of ending every interview with, “Is there anything I didn’t ask about that I should have?” … and the boundless thrill and energy of individual and group creativity.

All of it was shaped and driven by The Student.

Sue MacDonald, TMS editor-in-chief 1976-77, spent 22 years as an Enquirer reporter, family/health beat writer and columnist. Her post- newspaper career included positions in web content, blogging, public relations and marketing. Today she is a freelance writer/editor, “nana” to two amazing granddaughters, volunteer and grant writer at The Cincinnati Type and Print Museum and board member at Cincinnati Public Radio.