Eighty percent of college freshmen, including those who have declared a major, have no idea what they want to do when they grow up. Fifty percent of students will change their major at least once, if not more, during their years in college.

Kathleen Ritter is one of the 20 percent who knows.

The recent Sedona Red Rock High School graduate knew she wanted to be involved in journalism after one semester of Maureen Barton’s journalism class her junior year.

Around the same time, Ritter started going to hockey games.

She knew then exactly what she wanted to do: be a National Hockey League sports reporter.

“I started getting involved in journalism and going to hockey games,” Ritter said. “Both are passions of mine, so I thought ‘I’m going to combine them and go to work doing something that I’ll love.’”

Ritter was an athlete herself all her life, until a blown knee in soccer her sophomore year left her sidelined. Switching roles from playing sports to watching wasn’t easy, until hockey came into her life.

As she watched, Ritter became familiar with the game very quickly and got more involved with every goal. She studied the reporters and listened to what the broadcasters were saying.

For the full story, please see the Friday, June 21, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.