The 2015-2016 Forum staff: Jacob Gronberg, podcast manager; Catherine Blakemore, production manager; Rachel Robertson, editor-in-chief; Angie Merkley, associate editor; Taylor Stevens, online and social media manager; and Johnnie Ethington, business manager. Photo by Jake Smith
This is the last time.
The last time I get to sit here like this and be myself. This is the last time I get to write an editor’s column. It is sad, humbling and something I will cherish.
This task hasn’t been an easy one. Normally it is isolating, and many who work for me or with me disconnect, saying, “Oh, it’s not my work. I just do this; it’s Rachel who is editor.”
Yes, I have been editor, and yes, I have made many, many mistakes—from small typos to large issues that hurt others. For my mistakes, I apologize.
This position hasn’t been all smiles and creativity. When night comes and it is just you staring at your screen with concerned and angry emails, crying and not knowing how to make it stop or apologize better, it gets hard.
Or hearing people openly tell you how much something you pour ungodly amounts of time and effort into is terrible and useless. It becomes draining.
Yet, being a part of The Forum has been a part of my Westminster career, and I will never forget it. I’ve loved it.
I have been so grateful to work with the students I did this year. I always did love seeing the way they took a tiny story idea and flesh it out into a beautiful, full and completed package of a news story.
Then there’s my staff, who have been my backbone. I have been honored to have the staff I work with today. We have changed so much in my time here this year, but that is only because of the incredibly gifted talents everyone brought to the table.
Next year, The Forum will only shine brighter and grow stronger. I am so excited to see what the little newspaper that I took over a year ago blossoms into.
I know that our next editor-in-chief, Taylor Stevens, will set bars well above anything I could ever imagine. I am so happy to leave this ship in the most capable staff’s hands I could think of, and I am excited for their futures and the future of The Forum.
Thank you for all that you’ve taught me, I’m going to miss you, Forum.
