Eagle Journey is a Q & A series in which Sports Editor Eugene Evans will get to know some of the Eastern Michigan University student-athletes and why they chose to come here.
This week’s feature focuses on junior outfielder Jenn Lucas, from Pinckney, Mich.
Coach Melissa Gentile on Jenn Lucas’s work ethic: Jenn is definitely one of our leaders in terms of leading by example. She has shown up early for practices and goes out. Sometimes, I have to tell her to take it easy at practice so she can be available for a full season.
EE: How was the transition going from Pinckney Community High School to EMU?
JL: Completely different. The transition was a lot more different in terms of work ethic.
EE: What about the transition academically from high school to college?
JL: I feel like once I got to college, I focused a lot more on my studies. Also much different from because you have to put a lot more hours in the classroom compared to high school.
EE: What have you done to improve your game since freshman year?
JL: I have all credit to Coach Gentile. She really makes me go to my peak with improving everything like my hitting game. We do reps on defense and it makes me feel more confident that I can do anything once I step out onto the field.
EE: Now that you are an upperclassman, do you see yourself as one of the leaders of the team?
JL: We’re so young and getting to know all of them has been a challenge at times because we have so many on the team, but it is a role I have relished. At the same time, I still look up to the seniors because they set goals for all of the juniors to accomplish on a daily basis.
EE: What is your major and what would you like to do after graduation?
JL: My major is criminal justice and after graduating in the fall semester of 2015, I would like to get my master’s degree in criminology at a school somewhere in Florida.
EE: What would you like to do for a career after finishing graduate school?
JL: My goal is to be a part of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Of course I have to work my way up the ladder as a police officer, but being a part of the DEA is what I aspire to do.
