Forever Connected to These Pages
jessica Cross, O&B Editor
Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: Opinion
Orange and blue. Two simple words, two simple colors, yet they have become my life, in two senses, for the past four years. Carson-Newman has been my second home; the place where I can go right next door to find my closest friends, my second family. In another sense though, "orange and blue" has been my life. This is my final farewell to the readers of the Orange and Blue and to this campus.
After six semesters of being on this staff (three as co-editor, and one semester as editor), graduation is forcing me out of the office and my second home. As I write this, I am struck with a mixture of emotions because this is the final article that I will write for the O&B. I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve the students, faculty, campus, and all readers of this newspaper over the past three years.
I can remember the first article I ever wrote for the O&B. In the fall of 2006, a new competition, Carson-Newman Idol, made its debut on campus. I was assigned to cover this campus version of "American Idol." Over the course of the semester, I had the opportunity to write the first article about the new competition, cover all the semi-finalists rounds, and to cover the breaking last article announcing the winner.
We had published the paper the day of the show's finale and after attending the event, I stayed up late finishing the final article for the website and editing the photographs from the show. The sensation I felt covering that event and seeing it on the website the next morning was indescribable. From that moment on, my dedication to the O&B was unbreakable. I had always enjoyed writing, but it was during that semester that I fell in love with journalism.
I could write endlessly about the technicality lessons being on this newspaper staff has taught me (how to use InDesign, how to write headlines, the proper writing technique, etc.) but, being a part of this staff and being involved in the leadership positions of both co-editor and editor has helped me learn and grow more than I ever imagined possible. Behind the scenes, the interviews with people, a chance to hear someone's stories, are what can change you the most. When interviewing Jennifer Tramel for the alcohol awareness article earlier this semester, I fought back tears while listening to her story. Journalism is not just about getting the story and writing it with the five W's (who, what, when, where, and why) and the how, it is about telling people's stories and creating something that people want to read.
After six semesters of being on this staff (three as co-editor, and one semester as editor), graduation is forcing me out of the office and my second home. As I write this, I am struck with a mixture of emotions because this is the final article that I will write for the O&B. I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve the students, faculty, campus, and all readers of this newspaper over the past three years.
I can remember the first article I ever wrote for the O&B. In the fall of 2006, a new competition, Carson-Newman Idol, made its debut on campus. I was assigned to cover this campus version of "American Idol." Over the course of the semester, I had the opportunity to write the first article about the new competition, cover all the semi-finalists rounds, and to cover the breaking last article announcing the winner.
We had published the paper the day of the show's finale and after attending the event, I stayed up late finishing the final article for the website and editing the photographs from the show. The sensation I felt covering that event and seeing it on the website the next morning was indescribable. From that moment on, my dedication to the O&B was unbreakable. I had always enjoyed writing, but it was during that semester that I fell in love with journalism.
I could write endlessly about the technicality lessons being on this newspaper staff has taught me (how to use InDesign, how to write headlines, the proper writing technique, etc.) but, being a part of this staff and being involved in the leadership positions of both co-editor and editor has helped me learn and grow more than I ever imagined possible. Behind the scenes, the interviews with people, a chance to hear someone's stories, are what can change you the most. When interviewing Jennifer Tramel for the alcohol awareness article earlier this semester, I fought back tears while listening to her story. Journalism is not just about getting the story and writing it with the five W's (who, what, when, where, and why) and the how, it is about telling people's stories and creating something that people want to read.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Natalie
posted 5/08/09 @ 11:43 PM EST
Jess,
I'm sorry I can't be there tomorrow but know that I am in spirit. The O&B could have never made the progress that it did without you and your efforts were not in vain. (Continued…)
Post a Comment