Austin Anderson has always felt a deep connection to passenger trains.
“I consider myself an old-fashioned person,” says the Lakeland College senior. “I think half the fun of getting somewhere should be in the journey itself. But we’ve kind of lost that concept with modern travel.”
A New Holstein, Wis., native, Anderson is majoring in writing at Lakeland. Ever since he arrived, he has expressed a strong desire to craft a magazine feature article about passenger trains. Now he has achieved that goal.
Anderson’s article, “A Farewell Tribute to Soo Line 2719,” recently appeared in “The Soo,” a quarterly magazine published the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society. Anderson has a unique connection to Soo Line 2719.
“I was there when Soo Line 2719 returned to active status in 1998, and I visited the engine on its final day of operation in 2013,” says Anderson of the train, which was built more than 90 years ago. “So, I thought it fitting that I write about Soo Line 2719.”
On the day after this past Christmas, Anderson received a copy of the magazine in the mail, along with a note thanking him for his contribution. His story, which he had sent in more than a year before it was published, is now proudly framed.
“It feels awesome,” Anderson says of being published.
Anderson attends Lakeland thanks to a financial package that includes a Wisconsin Grant. He’s written for The Mirror, the college’s student media outlet, and has seen an improvement in his skills.
“Being at Lakeland has helped me become a better writer,” Anderson says. “My editing skills have also improved thanks to advanced composition and being with The Mirror.
“The editors at the magazine changed my introduction a little bit, but other than that, it appears just the way I wrote it. And that’s a really nice feeling.”
As Anderson’s time at Lakeland comes to an end, he reflects fondly on his collegiate experience. Not only did he hone his craft in the writing program – he enjoyed non-fiction the best – he also enjoyed singing in the Lakeland choir for four years.
“It was a phenomenal experience,” he says of his time in the choir. “I got to learn a variety of new songs and new languages. I’ll really miss it.”
Anderson’s first experience with Lakeland was in middle school, when he attended summer music camp. Right then, he thought, Lakeland would be a great place to attend.
“I’ve kind of always wanted to go to Lakeland,” he said. “I’m glad I came here, and I really do love the friendly staff and faculty. Everyone is always willing to help me. The classes have perfectly suited my needs. I took my non-fiction and fiction classes, as well as poetry and the other writing classes. But I also enjoyed art, music and the many other classes that fit the bigger cultural picture.”
When he graduates in May, Anderson will likely agree: Half the fun of getting there was in the journey itself.