Senior send-off: A paper can be a home
Photo by Antonia Moffa
I joined The Chronicle as a staff copyeditor in the fall of my freshman year. In high school, I had always wanted to be involved with the paper, but my schedule never aligned with meetings. I wanted college to be a fresh start! Because of my detail-oriented nature, I thought joining the copy board would be a good place for me. I’m not a journalism major – at that point I had never heard of AP Style – so I worried about the quality of my edits. But I loved the work, and when I was brought on as an assistant copy chief that same semester, I was elated.
My first night in The Chronicle office for layout is one of my favorite memories during my time at Hofstra. It was loud and overwhelming – trying to even hear yourself think, much less edit, while twenty people are crammed into such a small space is a challenge. Still, I was enchanted by the professionalism of the other editors and their commitment to quality journalism. I also loved the exposed brick walls!
From then on, The Chronicle became a constant fixture in my life. I looked forward to Monday nights, picking up the physical issues when they were on stands and seeing other editors around campus. I even began writing for the paper myself! I continued to bounce around various sections but felt the pull to write opinion pieces most frequently. The Chronicle has given me the space to bring my own feelings to a public venue and the confidence to feel that my ideas are worth putting out into the world, a skill that I will always be thankful for.
In my junior year, I became a copy chief, a role that I am still so proud of holding. It has been such an honor to read and edit each issue of this paper; every time I do so, I am reminded of the value of journalism and its capacity to inform and inspire. While I am not pursuing a career in the media industry, I feel that my exposure to the field of communications through my time at The Chronicle has prepared me for success anywhere.
Regardless of any professional skills I’ve gained from being a part of The Chronicle, I have learned so much more about being a good person. I’ve learned to take chances, connect with people that I wouldn’t normally, be empathetic and speak up when there is injustice in my community. The Chronicle will always hold a special place in my heart.
To Julia and Annabel, my fellow graduating copy chiefs, congratulations! Thank you for all the late-night laughs and commiseration over grammar issues and typos. I can’t wait to see what you both accomplish. To Nell, I couldn’t think of a better person to lead the copy team next semester; I’m so excited to see where you take the section. To everyone on The Chronicle E-Board, thank you for an amazing four years. Keep this paper alive and well, Hofstra is a much richer place because of it.
