Taking pictures of strangers and getting them to speak “on the record” are not activities for a timid person.

That’s why Jessica, who is pursuing a career in hospitality management, wanted to try photojournalism at Delta College.  

“I’m shy, and I knew I would have to work on meeting and talking to new people, especially in a professional setting,” Jessica says. “I decided to join the campus paper, Delta Collegiate, and take some communications classes.”

Leaving her comfort zone has gone well. Jessica is now photo editor for the paper and will soon be a page editor, too. 

Journalism also led to a highlight of her college career: When a documentary about holocaust survivor, Irene Miller, was screened at Delta College, Jessica wrote a preview – and Irene was a fan. 

“I got to meet her one-on-one,” Jessica says. “And then this woman, who has seen so much ugly in the world, compliments my writing. That really meant a lot to me.” 

It’s one of many reasons Jessica feels she made the right choice by attending Delta.

“I think the quality of education here even surpasses what you can get at a university,” she says. “And a lot of the friends I’ve made working for the newspaper are going to be my friends for a long time. At Delta, you can make fast connections in a friendly way and professional way.”

Sharing the Love

“When I was eight or nine, I saw the movie ‘The Wedding Planner,’ and I knew I wanted to be an event planner,” Jessica says. “The ability to help people during one of the biggest milestones in their lives … I feel like I’d be easing their worries and sharing in the joy of their special day.”

Jessica is in Delta’s 2+2 hospitality management program with Northwood University. She’ll earn her Associate of Arts degree before transferring to Northwood to earn her bachelor’s degree. 

The opportunity is helping her pursue her dream of becoming an event planner in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

“I really want to be part of a city and a community that value the same things I do,” she says. “And I want to give people a nice experience when they visit here.”

She’ll be well prepared for life at Northwood. She says Delta’s transfer center advisers have been easy to work with, and the small class sizes and on-campus resources have helped her succeed.

And whether she ends up in a hotel, banquet hall or country club, she’ll be ready for the interactions that come with the job. 

“If I hadn’t come to Delta, I wouldn’t have been able to meet all the people I have,” she says. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities and ideas to help me further my career and to excel as a person.”                       

Are you interested in pursuing a career in hospitality management? Delta College is the perfect place to start. Apply now.