A farewell from your Managing Editor: Blink and it’s gone
Demi Blackmon, Managing Editor
Well hello there. It’s me, Demi Blackmon. I am the Managing Editor for the Vision Online, the one who bugged everyone about reading the Vision and got her feelings hurt when you asked, “What’s the Vision?”
I have worked with North Greenville University’s newspaper since my freshman year and have learned so much throughout my time on the staff, lessons that will stay with me for a lifetime.
Have you ever had something you wanted to say so badly but just couldn’t find the words? Yes? Well, welcome to the life of Demi Raye Blackmon.
My mind is constantly thinking, processing and analyzing everything, but sometimes I just cannot find the words to explain my thoughts. However, when I put pen to paper (or my fingers on the keyboard) the words start flowing and my mind is able to finally relax.
Writing is and will always be my go-to stress relieving habit. When I don’t know what to do or how to handle a situation, I write.
Working with the Vision Online has been a complete blessing and answered prayer for my life. Even through all the stress and responsibilities resting on my shoulders, I have been given a whole new level of confidence. Although I still have a lot of work to do to reach excellence, I feel confident in writing news stories, editing stories and managing a staff.
Much of this confidence can be attributed to Karyn Campbell, the adviser for the Vision Online. Not only has she continued to encourage me every day, but there was never a day she didn’t believe in me or the newspaper staff. She believed in us even when we didn’t believe in ourselves. So, to you, Ms. Campbell, I say thank you.
And to the staff: thank you all for your hard work and dedication to the Vision. Every single staff member has exceeded our expectations. We had a dream team this semester, and I’m so proud of you all.
So after six semesters of working for NGU’s newspaper and online news site, I am finally saying my goodbyes. Well, goodbyes sound too sappy and eternal, so let me leave you with a quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.”
Life will get messy; it will be hard at times. And although you cannot choose the things that you will face, you can always choose the way you will respond to those circumstances. These hardships can either break you down or they can be stepping stones to make you into the person God has designed you to be. Life is all about how you look at things.
Adviser’s Note: Continuing a tradition begun with NGU’s student newspaper, “The Skyliner,” many years ago, we have asked graduating staff members to write a “farewell column.” Look for them throughout finals’ week.
