Let me break down my journey in order to fully appreciate my growth and simultaneously sprinkle in some advice to new, current, and future staff members (Look for the italics)
Freshman Year: Fate
I was an avid supporter of The Chronicle. I enjoyed reading it when it was distributed and always kept a copy. I was still dipping my toes into high school's murky water, so I figured I would wait to apply until my sophomore or junior year. Luckily, my passion for writing led me to take Creative Writing and fate put me in the classroom of Kurt Dinan. Mr. Dinan saw something in me that I had not seen myself, but I am truly grateful he did. He connected me with Mr. Conner and I filled out my application (turned in after deadline I believe). I still vividly remember sitting on the bench in C1 talking to Mr. Conner for the first time about how big of a commitment The Chronicle was and what being on staff meant. I interviewed with Sheila Raghavendran and Erin Brush in the old Chronicle room, C106 and was ecstatic when I found out I was accepted. You have been put in this position for a reason. Do not question your self worth because someone has seen something great inside of you.Sophomore Year: The Newbie
My first week on staff, I vividly remember hating it. I disliked and did not understand the story idea discussions. I questioned if it was the right path for me. Thank God I stuck with it. Remember it is okay to not immediately fall in love or find your place on The Chronicle. I remember struggling so hard to find my first story idea, and eventually I landed on GoPro Cameras--a valiant first effort for a story. There were so many firsts: seeing my name in print, my first Chron Fire, my first Chron Canoe trip. I remember being scared of the seniors (Erin Brush and Stich) and thinking they were so much older and cooler than me. I remember dreading bringing in breakfast every edition as the newbies are designated. As a senior now I realize that my fears were unneccessary, being a senior does not automatically put you above others like I had imagined. I began to slowly make a name for myself as somebody who is reliable and does what they are supposed. Another milestone was the creation of my first PowerPoint. The theme was celebrity look-alikes. Don't be afraid to take a risk as a new member. It can seriously pay off. This quickly became a trend, and every distribution day I made a PowerPoint to celebrate our hard work and to share some laughs. It is so important to have fun as a staff.
Junior Year: Getting it Done
With a year under my belt, new friends, and new knowledge, I was ready to take on my second year on staff. I began with a bang by having my first cover story ever on "Meninism" versus feminism. The Chronding this year was great and I remember ice skating, going to Salsa on the Square, and movie nights. I also began to establish myself as the resident party and event planner! Step up and take charge, things need to get done. This was a stressful year with classes and extracurriculars, but I am proud of myself for staying true and continuing to make deadlines.
Senior Year: The End
Today was a fantastic conclusion to my time on staff. I spent two bells finishing my final PowerPoint ever. We got to class and I presented it and got some laughs. We surprised Mr. Conner by showing our spoof of The Office where we made fun of ourselves. Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself. You are not perfect and that is OKAY. We gave DC a poster of senior pictures he can put in the backroom. Mr. Conner won the day by making the seniors feel so special. He told us each a quote from the book David and Goliath that embodied us and gave us all a copy of the book. I will never forget the special things he said about us and we are all very grateful.
Just remember, this class and life in general is what you make it. You can take advantage of the opportunities and have fun and laugh and smile, or have a negative mindset. Try your best to enjoy it.
As I have sat here spending the last hour and a half typing this blog post, I am finally ready to say it.
Goodbye C103