Adam works in The Advocate’s Lafayette office, which publishes the Acadiana edition of the state’s largest daily newspaper. He writes about business topics, which range from a restaurant or popular business opening or closing to issues relating to workforce, real estate, agriculture and energy. He also sends out a daily e-newsletter each morning with the latest business news for Lafayette-area readers.
I spent more time during my junior and senior years at The Lion’s Roar office than I did in an actual classroom. That’s the first place that comes to mind when I think about being a student at Southeastern. Our office was on the second floor of East Stadium, which was built as a dormitory and still resembled that years later. We published weekly, which meant we crammed everything into Wednesday nights to make our Thursday morning deadlines, often working well into the night. Once I went to my 8:15 a.m. class on a Thursday without a wink of sleep. I would not recommend it.
I was editor-in-chief at The Lion’s Roar my last two semesters, and that year our paper won honorable mention at the Southeastern Journalism Conference, an annual meeting of all colleges and universities in the southeastern U.S. It was an overall competition, which meant our little department and staff of about seven matched up against some of the biggest schools in the region with probably more students on their newspaper staffs than Southeastern had journalism majors. I told people for years it was the equivalent of a No. 15 seed beating a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. I had graduated when the award was announced, but I was told our adviser completely flipped out when our name was called.
I owe so much to two professors: Joe Mirando and Vic Couvillion. Dr. Mirando was so good at pushing students along to get better and making it clear if your effort was subpar. Some students got turned off by that, but it just motivated the rest of us to get better. He was the one who helped me land my first freelancing job with the Daily Star. Mr. Vic was incredibly patient with me with all my ideas and efforts. In my early days when I was trying to learn sports photography and kept making mistakes, he was incredibly patient and kept encouraging me. When I finally got it right, my photos were the main photos on the front page of The Lion’s Roar. I will never forget that.
Southeastern gave me the opportunity to learn all facets of the newspaper industry, which just made me a more well-rounded journalist. I don’t know if I would have had that opportunity anywhere else.
My job is the best of both worlds, in a way. I have spent time in my career as a reporter and other time as editor. In my current job at The Advocate, I wear both hats. I enjoy interviewing people and telling stories, but I also enjoy handing off assignments and watching other people’s talents blossom.
After graduation I was kind of taken aback at how bigger doesn’t always mean better in terms of the Southeastern’s journalism offerings. I have to be honest that I had some envy at times of students at other schools who got to cover bigger things (football games, for example) or were in a bigger city with a large daily newspaper. But being in a smaller market gave me lots of opportunities I’m not sure I would have gotten had I gone to LSU or UL-Lafayette or anywhere else. I learned so much at Southeastern.
College graduates entering the real world should aim to outwork and outlearn everyone in the room, especially if you’re working alongside graduates of bigger name schools. It’s the most effective way to grow as a professional. Go in there and make a difference. And find a mentor. Know what you want to be and find someone who does it right. Emulate, ask questions, and emulate some more.
Don’t listen to the negative voices: Why are you still working? I wouldn’t worry about that if I was you. They don’t pay me enough to do your job. The pay at my first job was less than today’s minimum wage. My mom was the only one who told me not to worry. The money will come, she said, and she was right.
My wife and I have four kids, ages 10, 8, 5 and 4. Sometimes I tell people parenting is my full-time job and my newspaper job is my part-time gig. We recently bought a 32-foot travel trailer. Camping is the very best way to travel.
For years after I graduated from Souteastern – I’m talking years, like 15, maybe 20 – I kept having the same dream: Southeastern checked its records, discovered I did not take all my required classes and wanted its degree back. I can't explain it
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