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News: Why I Love to Learn: J.R. Russell

Welcome to Roane State’s feature on students and what fascinates them about the subjects they study. Meet J.R. Russell. He planned to study accounting, but then a special or class or two changed his path …

Nov. 9, 2018

By Bob Fowler
Roane State staff writer

It may sound sort of “cheesy,” Jeffrey “J.R.” Russell readily admits, but a couple of special courses at Roane State Community College proved to be life-altering experiences.

Russell, 20, received an associate’s degree in business management last spring and at first planned to transfer to Tennessee Tech and study accounting.

That was before he took a couple of courses, taught by associate professor Bruce Cantrell, involving marine science. Now, he says, “I’ve found my passion in marine science and have decided what I want to do.”

Russell also credits Roane State instructors Jessica Fain and Mary Ann Sexton, who were also involved in his marine science studies, for helping inspire his decision to change directions.

So, he’s staying another year at Roane State, picking up courses like pre-calculus and organic chemistry, and will get his second associate’s degree this spring. Then, it’s on to Tennessee Tech to study biology.

The courses that altered Russell’s career path included marine coastal ecology in the summer of 2017 in Key Largo, Fla., and a tropical biology class held on the exotic island of Bonaire – 80 miles off the coast of Venezuela – last May.

In both classes, he studied coral reefs, identified a number of tropical fish and loaded their identifications into a data base, did various experiments and learned to scuba dive. The visit to Bonaire was a cultural education as well, as the island is an international melting pot of people.

“Had I not sought out those extracurricular courses, my life would be in a completely different direction,” Russell said. Other courses that are required for his new plans have proven daunting, he said.

“Math doesn’t come naturally to me,” he admits. “Having that challenge is good because throughout life, I’ll have things that are challenging.”

“Learning how to deal with those challenges and work through them makes you a more well-rounded individual.”

Having a love of learning “transfers to your career goals as well as your personal life,” Russell said.

In Key Largo, Russell and his fellow students also experienced living underwater for a day. They stayed in Jules’ Undersea Lodge, where Cantrell and Fain broke a world record – staying underwater for 73 days without ever surfacing.

While a Roane State student, Russell said he “had the opportunity to do quite a bit of things.” He was the president of the Roane State Student Government Association and has tutored fellow students at the Learning Center on the Harriman campus.

He also was heavily involved in the Tennessee Intercollegiate Legislature and was one of three student ambassadors for the Roane State Foundation.

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