I’ve always loved words. When I was a kid, I loved to talk to my siblings and my parents, probably more often than they wanted to hear. I wrote in my journal religiously throughout middle school and high school, making the daily interactions between my friends more dramatic than a soap opera. I dabbled in short fiction writing, in poetry and even in songwriting, but it didn’t take long for me to find my one true love — journalism. 

Coming into college, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to end up. As Sylvia Plath once wrote, “I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree,” and my branches were all something to do with words. A lawyer, an English teacher or a journalist. 

As I sat in class my first year, I pondered many different career paths. It was in my Introduction to Multimedia Journalism course with Dr. Kelly Poniatowski that I truly fell in love with journalism. 

In that class, we were required to write for The Etownian. I was already writing for them as a staff writer, as a way to get involved around campus, but in class I was forced to expand my skills, writing for several different sections. When the then Editor-in-Chief came into our class and mentioned that the Assistant Sports Editor position was open, I jumped at the chance. 

Then I didn’t get the position, and I am thankful every day for that. 

Instead of sports, I was moved to the Assistant News Editor spot that opened up. I was passionate about news, and I think that the staff could tell that sports journalism was not where my passion was. I held that position until last year, when I was promoted to Managing Editor with former Editor-in-Chief Chandler McGuire. Chandler taught me so much about what I know. She only held the top position at the paper for a semester, but she somehow held the paper together.

Chandler also moved production nights to Thursday nights for me, which was something I was concerned about. Since I also play basketball, I always have games on Wednesday nights, and I didn’t want to have to make a difficult choice between two of my passions. 

I’m forever grateful that I accepted the position of Editor-in-Chief, even though I honestly wasn’t sure I’d be able to handle it. I was scared when I accepted the position, but I shouldn’t have been. One of my favorite things about The Etownian is the way that the staff supports each other. Our editorial staff is, I believe, the best in the area, and I think the way we function as a team is something that’s very special at a small school. It’s not easy to produce a paper weekly, yet our editors devote their time to brainstorms, writing articles and lengthy production nights struggling with InDesign. 

Last semester, Kaleigh Christ was willing to step in as the Managing Editor after studying abroad in the spring, and despite graduating early. Kaleigh is so good at paying attention to the miniscule details and coming up with story ideas, and I had so much fun with her. 

This semester, Connor Burke stepped up. Connor was there in my very first class at Etown, and he stayed on the journalism train with me. I’m so grateful for the way he helps me with my crazy schedule and willingly picks up reviewing layouts before I even have to ask him. He brings humor and a sharp sense of journalistic integrity to the paper, and I’m so grateful that I’ve had him to rely on through some tough news cycles. 

There are so many other people who have made my time here so special, and their names are all listed in the Campus Life section under the staff list. This team is so special, and I am so, so proud of what they’ve created. I have asked a lot from them at times, creating an aggressive production schedule and changing stories last-minute, but I believe it’s been worth it for the quality we’ve produced, and I hope they think so too. 
I’m so grateful for my experience with The Etownian, and I cannot wait to read future issues. I will always be college journalism’s biggest fan!