Writing has, undoubtedly, been a major part of my life for about as long as I can remember. I have always loved words writing, reading, editing; the written word has had a profound effect on who Ive become.
When I was small, I would sit on the floor in my grandparents house and type notes on their old, olive green typewriter. Ive written short books for fun, mapped out countless stories in my mind and published my writing online. I write poetry, I write fiction, I report news.
Some days, I write more words than I speak, and on others, I struggle to write at all.
Maybe its surprising then, that my plan for college had nothing to do with writing. I didnt plan to end up studying journalism, working for my school newspaper and interning at a press agency. I didnt plan to report at a presidential debate, or to write, edit and photograph for my local paper over the summer.
Nothing in these past four years has truly gone to plan, and thats okay.
My role as copy chief has been one of the most enjoyable and most fulfilling positions I have held at Hofstra. On Mondays, I spend more time in The Chronicle office than I do in my dorm. There have been nights where I dont get back to my room until 3 or 4 in the morning, and yet, layout night is still something I look forward to every week.
Ive put my heart into every issue of The Chronicle that I have worked on, both as a news writer and as a copy editor. Yes, there have been mistakes that I cant rescind. I know weve all seen them. But that doesnt mean my editing process sucks instead, it means that Im still learning.
As a copy editor, and later copy chief, I have worked with an amazing team of editors (shoutout to Erin Hickey and Sarah Kocher, as well as the newer additions of Mia Thompson and Gabby Varano). Without them, the paper would have a plethora more Oxford commas and 10s spelled out. There would also be more factual errors for anything we miss, we fix so much more.
While I cant quite believe Im graduating, my time at Hofstra and The Chronicle have allowed me to grow so much, both personally and professionally. Im graduating with a job lined up, which goes to show that hard work (or blood, a bit of sweat and a whole lot of tears) does pay off.
My path isnt what I imagined it to be, but the course Im on has given me so many incredible opportunities. Ive learned to be a leader, and Ive become more confident in myself and my opinions. Ive learned that Im capable of more than I thought possible, and that getting enough sleep can actually fix a lot of my problems.
Ive become a more accomplished author with a myriad of bylines to put on my resume. But more than that, Ive learned to embrace the ups and downs and the beauty in the unknown.
So heres to the brick-walled Chronicle office in the corner of the Student Center, my well-used copy of the AP Stylebook and the hopeful downfall of the Oxford comma. My future path may be uncertain, but Im going into it much more prepared than I was four years ago, and for that, Im grateful.