People have given me many confused looks over the years due to my involvement with The Etownian. “But you’re an occupational therapy (OT) major,” they’d say, waiting for me to protest. I would smirk, do my standard giggle and respond with the answer that sent them into further bewilderment. “I am,” I’d say. “And one day, I will credit The Etownian for shaping me into the practitioner I have dreamt of becoming.”
Don’t get me wrong, this was not the plan—I did not enter college dreaming of joining this paper or studying literature with Dr. Webster (who, by the way, is the best!). I enrolled in this school with one goal: to graduate with a Master of Occupational Therapy (MSOT). Though I was dedicated to the program and my future profession, I knew that something was missing during my first semester at Etown in the fall of 2019. With all my intense science classes, a passion of mine had been neglected: writing.
Writing has always been, and will always be, an important aspect of my life. Once I saw a flyer for The Etownian in the iconic Schlobby, I quickly composed an email stating my interest—I knew this could be the outlet that I desired. By the next week, I had been assigned my first Feature’s story.
With that debut, my elatedness for writing had erupted once again, causing me to long for more ways to enhance my craft. I desired to grow my understanding of timeless pieces while studying the phenomenal authors behind them. After many meetings with Dr. Webster and strategically analyzing my OT schedules, I was able to become a double major in health sciences and English literature during my undergraduate career.
As I balanced an unconventional course load, time quickly progressed throughout my position as a Features writer. Before I knew it, I became Assistant Features Editor in the fall of 2021 and Features Editor in the spring of 2022. I liked running my section and felt as though Bridget (the then-Asst. Features Editor) and I had created a well-oiled machine. However, a surprising email quickly changed my journey with The Etownian.
“You are receiving this email because we believe you’d be a great candidate for the Editor in Chief or Managing Editor,” former Managing Editor Elizabeth Cunningham wrote. I reread that email more times than I’d like to admit. In disbelief, I hesitantly responded that I was interested in meeting to discuss the different roles—and to double-check that she meant to send me that email. After that chat with the former editorial staff, I was officially assigned the Editor in Chief for The Etownian.
As I entered the fall 2022 school year, I was nervous as I began this position; knowing that I had the entire paper on my back was a heavy weight to carry. I wanted to change the structure of The Etownian and implement changes to help the paper continue to develop; some adjustments included earlier deadlines and stricter layout requirements. Though there were modifications with plenty of growing pains, our efforts were not in vain.
The Etownian was awarded First Place Classification in the American Scholastic Press Association’s Scholastic Newspaper Awards, an achievement only given to 14 higher education institutions in the United States. Another critical achievement was establishing a system to compensate writers, a mechanism that had never been accomplished in The Etownian’s history. These are only a few examples of what we, a dedicated and persevering staff, have accomplished in three semesters.
To say that I am proud of The Etownian and the extraordinary students who uphold this organization is a drastic understatement. This team has allowed this paper to advance in a way that I could not have imagined. I am thankful, and quite frankly speechless, that I was able to participate in such a special workplace for five years.
Thank you, our supporters and readers, for your weekly involvement with this paper. You allow us to share our enthusiasm for spreading news and creating a sense of community through words and design. Continue to stay up to date with The Etownian in the semesters to come—trust me, they won’t disappoint you.
To The Etownian staff, thank you for allowing me to be your Editor in Chief for a year and a half. I will cherish every moment that I have spent working with you, including the times with InDesign crashing or late production nights. I cannot wait to see how The Etownian will continue to evolve as I finish my graduate program.
I already miss this, even though the reality of leaving The Etownian has not fully set in. Though I leave behind this paper to embark on fieldwork, I know this exceptional staff will continue to amaze me…it’ll now just be from a distance.
