So long, farewell and goodbye: A letter from the Editor
Jeremy Wetherton, Editor-in-Chief
How do you summarize a years worth of experiences in one simple article?
How do you choose one or two stories that would accurately represent a whole year’s worth of fun?
It’s impossible.
I could spend hours recounting all of the different times where people came through or pulled together an amazing story or just did an all around fantastic job, but I won’t.
I’d rather let the product do the talking for me.
Transitioning from a print publication to an online publication is not easy, as it takes a shift in mindset, writing style and layout. We made a lot of mistakes and we learned from them, but isn’t that the goal of a student news publication? To make mistakes and learn how to adapt and change because of them? Quickly, we realized we needed to change some procedures and learn some new writing styles, and our staff stepped up to the plate every single time.
This staff is full of photographers, videographers and writers that pulled together and made this year one of the best years I could have possibly imagined as an Editor-in-Chief. They made it so easy to brag on them because they worked so hard, and now they have the award to prove it. The South Carolina Press Association awarded us Second Place overall for web content and it could have been done without the amazing staff that put together articles for the website every day.
I had an amazing experience as the Editor-In-Chief. It taught me to be organized, to manage people and to be an all-around better person. It had its ups, and it certainly had its downs, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.
This year stretched me more than I had ever been stretched before. There’s no way any of this happens without my Managing Editor, Demi Blackmon. She worked so incredibly hard this year and was the my backbone throughout the entire process. Her work ethic and constant encouragement were things that I could lean on throughout the year. Thanks to her, this was an amazing year.
Also, Ms. Karyn Campbell was incredibly beneficial to us a staff. I’m thankful that, first of all, she gave me the opportunity to take this position at the start of the year. She worked very hard to approve stories, copy edit and generally keep me focused, all while taking classes to get her Doctorate. I’m very thankful for her leadership and ability to help us when we needed it.
I’m thankful for my family and friends as they encouraged me and dealt with me when the stress was weighing down.
Finally, I’m thankful for you, the reader. Without you, all of this effort is pointless. We write in order to inform you, entertain you or show you something in a way you’d never seen it, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t read it. So thank you for reading, and making this semester worthwhile. Knowing that people are out there reading pushes us to become better writers and encourages us to keep writing.
So, this is my farewell. I say goodbye to one of the most stressful, difficult, exhausting and rewarding years of my life. Goodbye to the late night questions, the deadline extensions, the story ideas, the meetings and everything else being Editor-in-Chief entails. Honestly, I don’t know how I should feel, either. The emotions of the end are constantly mixing.
One of the toughest things to do has been to let go of one of the hardest seasons of my life.
But at the end of the day, isn’t that the way it should be?
