A 2010 Campbell University graduate spends her days promoting figures in the entertainment industry and enjoys hanging with celebrities.

Melinda Gale Jackson, formerly of Erwin, works in public relations at JAG Entertainment, Los Angeles, and recently told communication studies students that her work often takes her to functions where publicists like her are treated as VIPs.

Jackson, 26, told a communication class that she often sees actor Will Ferrell, once chatted with athlete Tim Tebow and works with other celebrities.

“No one watches TV,” she said, “because you are either there are you’re part of it.”

Jackson went to L.A. While still a student at Campbell University, managed to graduate and now she is doing the work she loves.

She urged the class to be well-rounded and know journalism well if students want to work in public relations.

“I took every journalism class I could and even though I work as a publicist, I use lots of journalism in my work,” she said. “I know how to write a pitch that news reporters will get. I make it easy for them.”

A reporter with The Gazette-Virginian in South Boston, Va., since 2011, Hudson won first place for a feature portfolio, “Circle of Love.” The article explored the romance of high-school sweethearts reunited after 25 years.

The judges wrote: “The writer developed a nice lead. It is stylish and with a hint about the content of the story to follow. She wrote of a lengthy romance, and yet worked a dinner at Hardee’s into the equation. It would have been difficult for a reader to stop, and I certainly didn’t.” The judges also said, “The writer used a creative, flowing, friendly style to tell a nice story. No murders, city council shenanigans or horrible diseases needed, thank you. Just a nice story about nice people who have a nice life. It was a nice read.”

Hudson’s other features included an article on a Virginia farm family’s diversified, all-natural chemical-free farming operation and siblings who successfully competed in firearms competitions.

Hudson studied feature writing among other courses as a student at Campbell University.

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I don’t like that mode at all. I prefer a complete overview. I like to all the upcoming turns, how long we will be on the same road, what roads we are going to take, etc.

I like to consider different routes and choose the one that suits me best on a particular day, whether I’m in the mood for back roads, highways, or the quickest route.

I like to choose the route I’m taking and know every turn that’s going to happen along the way.

For me, the end of the school year is a time of reflection. Having been in school, either as a student or a teacher, since I was five years old, has conditioned me to live my life according to an academic calendar.

For most students, the end of one semester means thinking about the future; what classes are going to be taken next semester, what jobs are available, what graduate schools are the best, places to live, or even people to marry.

This year, as I have been reflecting back over the last few years, I have appreciated the old adage “life is a journey” in a way I haven’t before.

I’ve realized that I have most often approached life the way I approach a trip using GPS: I want the route laid out before me. I want to know exactly where I am going, how I am going to get there, when I am going to get there, and what is going to happen along the way. Life has not been that easy or well defined, and it’s been very frustrating to me at times.

I made the choice at a very young age that I really wanted my life to belong to the Lord; to do what He wanted and go where He sent me.

The journey, however, has not always gone as I planned. The directions have been much more like my husband’s preference of travel, rather than mine.

I’m sure I’m slaughtering theology by writing this, but the voice of the Lord in my life has been a lot like the voice of the GPS.

Though not usually audible, to my dismay, but in retrospect, relief, God has usually only provided me with the information, the opportunity, and even the grace I need to take one step of my life journey at a time.

For someone who planned what I wanted to do when I was eight years old, planned out the steps I would take to achieve my goal, what I would do each step of the way, and when I would it, God’s direction in my life has been frustrating. I don’t see the whole route. I don’t get to know how long I’m going to travel a certain road. I don’t even know where I’ll end up, or what I’ll encounter along the way.

Many times I’ve become impatient while waiting for the next direction, and looking for “road signs”, or even stopping to ask for others for directions has ended me on the wrong route.

Gracefully, and mercifully, God has always “rerouted” me, and gotten me back on the right path. He has used my lack of understanding, my mistakes and failures, to deepen my understanding of my need for His direction, and my appreciation of His patience and faithfulness.

I have been a lifelong student and like most students, I want to know my assignment, exactly what is expected of the assignment, and when it is to be completed.

When I was younger, I really wanted God to tell me what His plans were for my life, so that I could get busy carrying out the “assignment”. For me, that has not been the way life worked out at all, and I am so grateful.

My life has been full of wonderful things: wonderful parents and siblings, a great place to grow up, wonderful scholastic opportunities, great husband, great kids, great jobs.

It’s also been full of disappointments and struggles: seeing my father deal with a terminal illness, the death of a parent, grandparents and children; the frustration of applying for jobs and not getting them; the irritation of working jobs that I didn’t want to work.

Some roads on my life journey have been difficult, ugly and potentially unnecessary detours. Some of them have been smooth, scenic highways that I never wanted to end. All of those roads, however, whether smooth, rough or ugly have led me where I am today.

It is a good place. It is not the end of my journey, and I don’t even know how long I’ll be on this particular stretch of road before there is a bump, a detour, or a sharp curve. It used to frustrate me that I couldn’t see those things in the distance. Now it is a relief.

I am learning that God’s grace is sufficient for now. I really don’t have any idea what the future holds, good or bad. I don’t know the entire route God has planned for my life, and how my personal decisions, or the decisions of others, will effect that. I have learned, however, that He is faithful, and He is there, and most importantly, He knows the next step. Ultimately, He is the only one who does.

So, as you graduate, go on to a career, family, or graduate school, or just take the summer off, remember that life really is a journey. If you don’t like the road you’re on, maybe you need to reflect on whether or not you have committed your life to the only One who really knows your ultimate route. If you have committed your life to the Lord, know that He will give you direction(s) in His timing and in His way. Listen for the next step of your journey: look for road signs, even ask directions from others whom you trust, but ultimately listen for His voice, in whatever way He speaks to you.

And, relax. There will be disappointments, discouragements and difficult times along the journey. There will also be moments that will better than you can even imagine, and wonderful surprises along the way. The journey of your life may turn out very differently than you imagine, but if you follow the route He has planned for you, you will not be disappointed.

ATTN: Editorials do not reflect the opinion of the entire publication.

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“We are not in Buies Creek no more,” said our bus driver when dropping us off to take the Metro.

Campbell’s Campus Activity Board took a weekend trip to Washington, D.C. with 35 students en route.

We got there a little past 9 to head to the Smithsonian Metro station where it would take an hour.

Katlyn Clark in front of the White House.

I strongly suggest buying passes to take the Metro to transport to your destinations because it is worth it to not deal with traffic and it saves money.

The first place my group went to was the Natural History Museum where it has different species like dinosaur bones and stuffed animals. I even saw a Camel skeleton but this one had no hump. I was slightly disappointed with that until we went into the next Museum.

We walked through the American History Museum, which has to be one of my favorite Museums that I have ever been to. They had the Greensboro sit-in corner where four Black Men refused to leave their seats until they were served. That was pretty cool because History was made in that setting and I saw it before my very eyes.

The Museum also had different exhibits of the Emancipation Proclamation, World War ΙΙ, Food, First Ladies, Presidents, and more.

I love seeing the history of the place I live in and seeing old items that were once used never knowing that it would show up in a Museum.

After that, photo taking was a must while walking outside by Capitol Hill, the Washington Monument, The White House, and the Lincoln Memorial.

The Lincoln Memorial makes me think about when Martin Luther King Jr. spoke his, “I Have A Dream” speech as well as the well known movie, “Forrest Gump” when Jenny yells for Forrest as he is speaking in front of a very huge crowd.

I went to visit the Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial. These memorials are very touching to visit. The Korean War Memorial having the lifelike figures of Soldiers walking in the War to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial having all of the names of the Soldiers that died in that War. Coming from a military family background, I support our Military and show great kindness towards them. Go to these memorials if you do as well.

Clark in front of the Berlin Wall.

After, I had dinner with my group in the Ronald Reagan building with a food court. I suggest going there because it is not the expensive and it has a variety of places to choose from.

Throughout the rest of our day Saturday, my group walked around D.C. which was peaceful and being able to rest after a day of walking around.

Here are some tips on going to D.C.:

1. Not all places you go into are free.

2. Always have a map and make sure you are going the right way.

3. Do not lose the group of people you are with.

Touring Washington, D.C. is all of how you make it out to be. You either love it or hate it, but that is the place where history is made for our country and I like that I feel like I am in another world there.

I was one of the ones who made sure to get the album when it had first came out. 

I had fallen in love with the song “Suit & Tie” already on the album and have been a fan of JT since his NSYNC days.

I also had JT’s last album “FutureSex/LoveSounds”, that came out in 2006. I love that album still to this day so I was ready for Justin to make comeback.

When I got the album, I had to warm up to it a couple of times to get a feel for the songs, but I am now grateful that I bought it.

Some of my favorite songs on the album are: Pusher Love Girl, Suit & Tie, Don’t Hold The Wall, Mirrors, Let The Groove Get In, Tunnel Vision, and That Girl.

According to the LA Times on metacritic.com on this new album, “Timberlake is reminding us that as quickly as music moves today, great style persists.”

Justin’s songs can be easy-going to listen to, fast-paced, or a good song to dance to.

Some of the songs can go up to seven or eight minutes, but it never dulls your mind to wonder when the song will ever end.

The beats and sounds in the songs are likeable and original, one of the songs that shows these qualities is, “Don’t Hold the Wall” which is one of my top favorites.

I strongly recommend on buying this album, you will get your monies worth for sure.

The 20/20 experience album is just the beginning, this is the part one where part two will come out later this year.

By Katlyn Clark
Staff Writer 

“Indian night is an event that shows Indian tradition. Everyone gets dressed up in Indian attire,” Rekulapally said. ”There will be delicious food, marvelous performances and DJ.”