Before I even officially started at Point Park, I knew I wanted to be a part of The Globe. I discovered my interest for journalism in middle school after joining the student paper and went on to establish a publication in my high school. There, I served as Editor-In-Chief for three years. So, upon arriving in Pittsburgh, before my “Stranger Things” posters were hung or my CD collection was organized, I wanted to join The Globe.
I remember feeling so intimidated at my first pitch meeting; don’t get me wrong, everyone was super nice and extremely welcoming, but they had this air of professionalism and capability I thought I could never possibly achieve. This was the big time; this wasn’t taking a month to hem and haw over an article like I’d done in high school, it was writing something every week, and adhering to a standard of quality that has been upheld for decades. I wanted to be able to contribute the skills I had developed, as well as learn more from the talented people around me, but feared I wasn’t cut out for it.
The article I associate with finding my footing was an opinions piece I wrote about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s screwed up voting system; it elicited a response from readers that I had never really experienced with my work, garnering a good number of likes and comments on The Globe’s website. To see that something I had written had connected with others, that I had brought attention to something that people were passionate about and wanted to be addressed, it gave me confidence, and encouraged me to continue developing my voice as a writer.
In the years following, I had the privilege of serving as an Opinions Editor as well as a Features/Art and Entertainment Editor for The Globe. Through these positions, I was able to hone my writing skills, gain hands on newsroom experience, and conquer the beast that is Adobe Indesign (I’m not a master by any means, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come, if I do say so myself), but above all else, I had fun. It was a blast being able to write about whatever movies or music or TV made its way onto my radar that week, whether it was something I had been anticipating for a while, or something I found randomly while looking for article topics.
Whether the article subject was an absurd show about a talking egg, or a more serious topic like book banning or honoring a legacy, I’m extremely grateful to have had this platform to voice my opinions and bring attention to issues and events that I am passionate about, for when I think back on my time on The Globe, and how it contributed to my college experience, that is what stands out to me most: the role this publication played in helping me develop my voice not just as a writer, but as a person.
When I went into that first pitch meeting four years ago, I was a timid freshman, so tightly wound that if Ferris Bueller were here, he’d have a great joke to make about coal and diamonds. I struggled with setting impossibly high expectations for myself, and knowing when and how to trust in my skills. Now, despite my infinite senior wisdom, I’m not going to say those attributes have completely dissipated, because it doesn’t work like that, but I have made strides, and being able to write for The Globe has contributed to that. I have developed a better sense of understanding in myself and who I am, and how to strike the balance between embracing feedback and trusting in myself and my abilities.
If I can offer any advice to those early on or just starting in their college journey, it would be to take the time to get to know yourself and what you need to succeed. Work hard and give everything your all, but also understand when it’s time to take a break. Everyone is different, and with that, everyone’s college experience will be different as well. Do what you need to do to make it work for you. Give yourself the kindness, patience, and understanding that you deserve.
It has been a pleasure to be able to write for this publication; to all of the writers and editors, current and past, that I have crossed paths with over my time on The Globe, I am so grateful for the ways you have helped me to strengthen my skills and develop my voice. And for anyone who has ever taken the time to read one of my articles, I can’t thank you enough.
Without you, I would just be talking to myself about bad Netflix movies and “Zack and Cody” in retrospect, which I can do, but it’s more fun this way.
