Every semester there is a graduation ceremony, which is accompanied by the publication of the annual Goodbye Grad issue of Collegiate Times. Every year when graduation season comes around, I always think about what I will write when the time comes. I was amazed that he was able to condense into one article how much of an impact each staff member had on her four years at the university and his time at CT. After two years of reading and editing Goodbye Grad's work on the sidelines, it was finally time to write my own work. What I realize now is that the most difficult part of writing a graduate work is not choosing a topic, but having the courage to actually sit down and write. Writing a farewell thesis means acknowledging that your time as a student at Virginia Tech has come to an end and that your life is about to change.
I joined the CT opinion section during my freshman year as a way to embrace my love of writing and science. When I was in high school, I was deciding between two possible college majors: journalism and biochemistry, two completely opposite fields. Writing came more naturally to me than science or math, so journalism seemed the more obvious choice. On the other hand, solving the puzzles was fun and the science challenged me in a rewarding way. My dream since elementary school was to become the editor-in-chief of VOGUE, but I decided to major in biochemistry because I wanted to write as a side job. As a writer for CT, I was excited to focus on gender-related issues, especially her underrepresentation of women in STEM. My first article was just like that, and I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I saw my work published for the first time. I never thought I would become section editor within a few years.
I'm sure many editors have said this before, but I never imagined I'd become an opinion editor. My intention has always been simply to write and use my position as a writer to highlight issues that are important to me. My first semester as editor-in-chief was really scary because I had never been in a leadership position completely on my own. I tend to be an introvert in group settings, so leading an entire section of writers seemed like a challenge. It's no secret that this section is made up of very opinionated people. That's why we joined. At first I was intimidated by the idea of working with such powerful writers who wanted their voices to be heard. I had to learn not only how to manage sections, but also how to create a welcoming environment while navigating controversial and diverse viewpoints.
good bye 🙁
“Opinion is more than just a section of a weekly newspaper or a tab on a website; it's a place where everyone is welcome.”
Thanks to our most supportive section writers, these hesitations were quickly resolved. Opinions is more than just a section of a weekly newspaper or a tab on a website; it's a place where everyone is welcome. Weekly meetings have become a safe place to find community and introduce new ideas to each other. From cheerfully sharing the good and bad of the week to discussing the intricacies of video games to bonding over the experience of narrowly dodging an electric scooter around campus, meetings are never a hassle. It wasn't a big deal, but rather a time I was looking forward to. The leaders of this section, which included writers from a variety of majors, further emphasized that writing is not limited to a specific field. Everyone can write and everyone has a story to share. I'm grateful to have played a role in the stories we've shared in this section over the past few years.
I'd like to thank all the writers I've worked with over the years who made my time at Opinions so memorable. Thank you for your dedication, thank you for attending the conference even though you are busy with your studies, thank you for listening to my annoying speech about solving editing problems, and most importantly, thank you for my Thank you for learning with me. Watching you grow as a writer over time has been one of the most rewarding processes. I would also like to thank my co-editor Alyssa for taking care of this section while I was overseas. I definitely couldn't have done this without you and I know this section is in great hands. I would also like to thank Bollo's Pumpkin Chocolate His Chip Her Muffin for helping make it on Sunday. With muffins by your side, you can do anything.
If my time at Virginia Tech and CT taught me anything, it's that I'm far more capable in the face of challenges than I initially gave myself credit for. is. Take that risk, join that club, try that class, apply for that position. You may surprise yourself in the most amazing way. In doing so, I have grown tremendously as a writer, student, leader, and individual. As I enter the next phase of my life, I cannot predict the future, but I now have the confidence to approach whatever lies ahead with open arms.
