Linda Hobbs, a senior at Clark Atlanta University is ready to dive into the field of journalism upon graduation.

Growing up in Detroit, Mich., the younger of two daughters, Hobbs, 21, was raised by her mother in a single parent household.

“Like any other household, single or not, we had our ups and downs. Granted, I didn’t have the most privileged childhood, but I was blessed, and at an early age I knew what I wanted to do.”

Hobbs said that while growing up, she always found inspiration from Vibe magazine music writer Kevin Powell.

“In middle school I read his article called “Live from Death Row” in a 1995 issue of Vibe magazine where the whole beef from Bad Boy and Death Row was going on.

“The way he was able to put the story together read like a good novel, but it was truth and journalism. That is when I fell in love with music journalism,” Hobbs said.

Hobbs has “gotten her feet wet” in the field of journalism by internships at the Detroit and Atlanta area such as: the Metro Times, Upscale Magazine and Detroit Free Press.

Along the way, Hobbs acknowledges that in this field you have to have a thick skin.

“I was able to interview Kanye West twice, before his album dropped and after. The first time he was so open and easy to interview. The second time around, it was the worst interview ever because he was so cocky and rude,” Hobbs said.

“If you are not able to take criticism and be able to bounce back, this is a career that will bruise your ego,” Hobbs said.

Through it all Hobbs loves this industry and would not trade it in for anything in the world.

MARCI FULLER