Nicholson joins PCN staff as columnist

If you have read the Phillips County News' opinion and editorial page over the last two weeks, you might have noticed the page has a new wrinkle with Brandon Nicholson's byline and columns.

Nicholson is a 2013 graduate of Malta High School and is working as an "intern" for his hometown newspaper while attending the Montana State University in Bozeman where he hasn't technically declared a major, but thus far is focusing on elementary education and writing.

After graduating from Malta in 2013, Nicholson attempted to start his secondary education at MSU, but found that he wasn't ready for the financial commitment required to attend. In an effort to become more financially secure, Nicholson dropped out of school and headed to North Dakota to work on a fracking rig. The job in North Dakota lasted for 18-months before Nicholson decided to go back to school.

"I got my (stuff) together and decided I wanted to go back and continue my education," Nicholson said. "I am not exactly sure what my major will be, but I know I am not dropping out again."

Nicholson said college isn't for everyone and he believes high school seniors should have a solid idea of what they want to do with the rest of their lives before heading off to college.

"School isn't as easy as working in North Dakota," Nicolson admitted. "Don't go until you are sure what you want to do. There is a chance you will get there and get overwhelmed."

Since learning the alphabet in kindergarten, Nicholson has had a passion for writing. Growing up, his audience were the teachers he learned under, specifically now retired Mrs. Hanson and Mrs. Carrie, adding that Mrs. Hanson has read his columns in the PCN and has said she is happy to see him writing.

"They also encouraged me to write, but I never really thought I had any talent," Nicholson said.

Now, Nicholson has a potential audience of over 2,000 readers each week, a fact he said leaves him a little unsettled.

"It's a little nerve wracking, it really is," he said. "But I am having a great time."

Nicholson said that becoming a teacher is a possibility and that he would like to either teach at the college level or grades kindergarten through third. Traveling the world is a bucket list item for Nicholson so teaching outside of the U.S. is a possibility.

Besides his weekly column, Nicholson has been carte blanche as far as future writing for the newspaper goes. At the moment, journalism and working at the PCN is a hobby, but Nicholson's big dream is to pen a story about the Montana vs. Montana State football game and get the copy on someone's desk at ESPN.

New press credentials for Nicholson have been applied for with the Montana Newspaper Association and the PCN is doing it's best to at least get the "intern" onto the field for this year's game.

Stay tuned and please continue to read Brandon's musing on page 3A.

Brandon is the son of Malta's Chad and Michelle Nicholson and his siblings are Hailey, Jada, Jay and Nikki. Nicholson said he is blessed to have come from such a big family and added he hopes to always do them proud.

I'm the oldest so in a way my little cousins and siblings are my responsibility," he said, "so I try to do a good job at leading by example. I'm nowhere near the perfect person though."