“Keep away from the people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel like you, too, can become great.” –Mark Twain
When I was 11, I found a fortune-telling machine that spit out a card when you fed it 25 cents. Mine read, “You will soon have to choose between a life full of riches and a life full of adventure.” Ten years later, and with a nearly completed communication degree, I think it’s safe to assume which I chose.
Growing up, I was equal parts logical and foolhardy, discerning, but wild. I couldn’t figure out a potential career that would accommodate the dichotomous nature of my personality, until I decided to become a journalist.
From working as an anchor on my school’s televised morning announcements in sixth grade, becoming the Arts Club journalist in eleventh grade, and to editing my high school’s newspaper senior year, journalism had crept its way into my life until I could not separate myself from it.
When I entered college my freshman year with a journalism degree and a belly full of fire, I told my roommate about my intent to join the Rocket. She said, “Who knows? You might be editor-in-chief of the Rocket one day!” I laughed out loud at that one.
This will be my fourth year of involvement with the Rocket, and it’s been the most educational experience I’ve had at Slippery Rock. During my first year on staff as assistant campus life editor, we all tackled scandals, missed deadlines, a failing server and more, but we have never given up.
As editor-in-chief, I hope to encourage other staff members to realize their full potential and to exceed their own expectations, as well as convince myself of the same thing.
