Who is Tracy Simmons?
I am very blessed because I've known my whole life what I want to do for a living — write.
Journalism is a fun and fulfilling career because I get to meet someone new everyday, find out what their story is, and tell it to the community. I first discovered reporting when I joined my high school newspaper class. By the time I was a senior I had worked my way to editor-in-chief, had an internship with The Albuquerque Tribune and freelanced for the Albuquerque Journal.
I was awarded a journalism scholarship and worked my way through Eastern New Mexico University in three years by taking overloads. I was eager to get back in the newsroom. While in college I became editor of the campus newspaper, The Chase.
I would have ended my education with a bachelor's degree in print journalism, but ENMU invited me to stay and earn my master's while helping start ENMU's inaugural women's soccer team. Soccer is the one thing in my life I've been involved in longer than newspaper. I coached and played NCAA II soccer the first season, but wasn't content.
I belong in the newsroom. That's when I began my job hunt. I landed a job at the Victoria Advocate in South Texas where I worked as a religion and an education reporter. After that I worked at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal as an education reporter, and then the online editor. Now I work at the Waterbury Republican-American in Connecticut as the religion reporter.
I've also been published in a book called "True" where I tell the story of meeting my dad and my two sisters for the first time. I was raised in a single parent home and understand the concept of hard work and dedication. The life lessons my mom taught me are helping me become a better journalist everyday.
In 2007 I was named to the Texas Association of School Boards' Media Honor Roll and also earned honorable mention for the 2007 Texas APME award for short features.
I am available for freelance work and am willing to travel. Contact me!