In August of 2021, my second year at Elizabethtown College, I was broke and desperate for a job. My job at home paid only a quarter of minimum wage, and that was not going to cut it with my coffee addiction. I had a two-week stint in Dining Services where I worked at The Grill, but that was not the job for me. In the High Library, I scrolled through the job postings on the career portal and saw a listing for the Assistant Campus Life Editor. In high school, I served as the Editor-in-Chief of our paper, and I missed writing articles so I applied on a whim.
I remember how nervous I was for my interview, where I met then Campus Life Editor, 2023 English literature alumna Elizabeth Cunningham. I remember not knowing how to navigate Steinman Center for Communications and Art, and having no clue where to find the newsroom. Most of all, I remember how excited I was when I got that email on Sept. 2, 2021 that I had been hired.
And the rest is history.
I worked my way up through the ranks from Assistant Campus Life Editor to Campus Life Editor to Managing Editor to now Editor-in-Chief. I loved every role that I had, and while as Editor-in-Chief don’t have a favorite section, Campus Life will always hold a special place in my heart. It fulfilled my childhood dream of working at Buzzfeed, and I always enjoyed writing the Horoscopes even though they were so silly.
The Etownian reminds me a lot of my relationship with my brother. It drives me crazy (thank you Adobe for creating InDesign, the worst program to ever exist), but I also hold a lot of fondness in my heart for this little paper. My experience here is why I got hired at my two internships and the reason I have a job after graduating. Had I not made the spur-of-the-moment decision to apply, I wouldn’t be where I am. And that is so worth the gray hairs I have now.
More than the skills I gained, I love the Etownian because of the relationships I’ve fostered. For example, Cunningham became a dear friend of mine. Charlie Carberry, the Campus Life Editor, joined the Etownian at my insistence, and they’ve taken Rory, Campus Life’s mascot, to new heights. Really, every person who pours hours of time into this paper every week is someone I have the utmost respect for. I will miss our brainstorms and you all putting up with my icebreakers.
To DaniRae Renno, the current Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief in just a few weeks, I wish you luck, though I know you don’t need it. Your brightly shining optimism inspires me every day. I can’t wait to see the paper thrive next year.
My room is littered with all the many, many copies of the Etownian I’ve worked on. Years from now, when I find a crumpled copy with faded ink at the bottom of one of my junk drawers, I’ll smile and be grateful for this little piece of time. Then, I’ll force whoever is around me to hear whatever ‘blank’ they are based on their zodiac sign.
