The Reporter: my second home and college highlight
It’s hard to believe my time at MSU is over. Four short years ago, on August 20, 2021, I walked through The Reporter’s doors, looking for an application to become a writer for the Variety section. I was an anxious freshman who had moved out of state to a place where I knew no one, looking for a fresh start where I could write and hopefully, “meet my people” as my mom had told me. Turns out walking through those doors was one of the best decisions of my entire life.
The Reporter has given me more than I ever would have imagined. Throughout the multiple positions I’ve held here and numerous stories I’ve written, I’ve gained an appreciation of how news truly impacts the world around us, how it forms our decisions and how we connect with others. The stories I’ve heard from countless students, faculty and even Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, made me realize we share more as humans than we think.
If I were to individually thank every person who’s been a part of my journey, this would turn into a novel. (Individual thank yous can be given upon request). But to sum it up, here’s who played a massive part in my time at MSU:
I have to give an immense amount of thanks to Max, Jenna and Mansoor for helping me adjust to my first year at The Reporter. Thanks for all the late-night jokes, but more importantly for being my role models. Your work ethic made me only want to work a thousand times harder and I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of you. Thank you for taking a chance on little freshman Emma.
Special shoutout to Julia, Ali and Joey, the second-year editorial staff. I look back on those crazy chaotic nights and laugh about them to this day. I still don’t know how we managed to put a paper out with our freestyle nights, food runs and shenanigans that made me laugh the absolute hardest. There was a truly special bond that year I can’t describe, but it was the squad of legends.
Thank you to Anahi, Luke, Mercedes, Mohamed, Hayden and Amalia for being my editorial staff throughout the two years I was editor-in-chief. A lot was going on in this head of mine, but all of us went through our new roles together and you made me feel less alone. Talk about efficient production nights because we absolutely killed it!
To my ad reps, Sam, Mia, Dom, Ethan, Roman, Ellie, Kendra, Alissa, Ryan and Cole; you helped contribute to the paper just as much as everyone else. Despite my complaints about supplementals or extra pages, you’ve hustled a bunch. Thanks for letting me yap with you when we know we all should’ve been working.
To all the writers, photographers and front desk staff I’ve worked with throughout the years, it was such an honor to work with you, get to know you and see your work grow. I’m excited to see where you’ll go and what you’ll do.
To Dana, thanks for handing me the application when I walked in welcome weekend, probably wondering who that eager freshman was. Thanks for helping assemble the paper and answering my billion questions on computer updates.
To Jane, thank you for becoming my grandma-away-from-home. You care so much about the Reporter and the well-being of the staff, but the kindness of your heart, willingness to listen to others and give advice is what truly makes the Reporter such a safe, welcoming space. I’m going to miss you bringing in treats and our hour-long coffee chats every single morning, delaying our individual work. Call me if you need someone to send you a gracious amount of chocolate or to remind you MSU is better than Augie 🙂
To Robb, I’m so glad I got over my intimidation of you. Even though you seemed like the scary consultant right away, you’ve been so helpful, open and caring. At the drop of a hat, you’d answer my questions on how to properly interview, reassure me when imposter syndrome kicked in, made me laugh when my mental health was at its lowest and always reminded me when I messed up, I was still a good kid at heart. As my dad-away-from-home, I can say you’ve not only made me a better journalist, but a better person. Just because I’m going to, in your words, “go and do my effing job” doesn’t mean I’m not going to send you “old person roasts.” I’m going to miss you (and Peppa and Hattie) loads.
To my Mom, Dad, brother Sam, Uncle Thom, Grandma Barb, puppy Lola and godparents Douglas, Steve and Carole; your unwavering love and support of my time at college is unconditional and I’m so lucky you have my back. I’ll never be able to accurately put into writing how much I love and care for you.
To my friends Jenna, Emily, Becca and Kaitlyn; you’ve been my rocks the last few years and I’m so lucky to have met you here. Words will never be able to explain how much you mean to me. Shoutout to my friends back home from high school who have also supported me from afar!
Tremendous thank you to the entire creative writing department here at MSU. High school Emma would not believe she would have professors as great as Chris McCormick, Rachael Hanel, Michael Torres and Robin Becker. You’re extremely talented and passionate about the beautiful craft of writing and you made showing up to class worth it.
However, none of this would’ve been possible without creative writing professor and my advisor Geoff Herbach. You took time out of your day (in the middle of the pandemic no less) to tell me all about what the creative writing department offered at MSU over Zoom. I was so lost about where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do and to have you tell me my dreams of reading and writing could be achieved is a feeling I can’t explain. I cried after the first day of your class when I started my major because I was finally doing what I was meant to do. To give purpose to someone’s life is the most amazing gift. You are the Morrie in my Mitch Albom life.
At my job interview, Max told me “you get out what you put in” and safe to say, the blood, sweat, tears and sleepless nights don’t even matter when I think about how much experience, memories and lifelong friendships I’ve gained in return. Without a doubt, I wouldn’t change my choice of coming to MSU or working for the Reporter for the world. I’ve grown as a person, a student, a writer and a journalist and it’s all thanks to what I learned here. Sharing the stories of others makes the world go round. If you can’t share the stories of others, share your own. You want to be able to shut the book of your life and go, “Damn, what a great read,” and I can say that about the Reporter.
(Photo courtesy of Emma Johnson)
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