By Matthew Dooley, Forum editor
In a couple weeks, it will be my time to leave Susquehanna University to join the alumni experience.
Four years. Each of them a captured memory, each different in their own devices, but still a building block of the person I am today.
Every friendship made, every allnighter, every laugh, every fire drill due to lack of understanding how to microwave popcorn, and every dorm lifestyle has pushed me to this year. I will hold tight to all of them, as I step into a new unknown, when I receive my diploma.
However, before I pack my suitcase and make my last drive down University Avenue, one will be able to find me in, The Quill news office, a place has that impacted my entire college career.
In April 2017, I received word, I would start at The Quill as the Forum Editor. This is after I worked as a staff writer for three years.
It has been a year since that day, and now I will also be saying goodbye to the Quill. Starting as a first year, I joined the paper not knowing anything about practicum, only knowing the lessons from working on my high school newspaper.
The Quill was different though. In high school, the paper would come out every two months. With The Quill there were shorter deadlines. Each week, The Quill had become further ingrained in my life, pushing me to add a journalism major in my sophomore year.
At Susquehanna University, I hoped to use my writing to try and better a person’s day. Journalism allowed me to do that, showcasing the stories and perspectives of people who, without a journalistic outlet, might not have been heard.
At the time I also hoped to use the skills gained from my creative major to bolster this idea. I would consistently meet with sources with great stories to tell.
Even if the article wasn’t about them, I hoped to be able to showcase them more-so through their words, focusing on how to best represent the quotes to the benefit of the article.
The Quill and the university’s journalism program, however, also taught me the need for deadlines, especially when pumping a physical and digital paper every week.
To be able to see the struggle on both sides of the isle, from once being a staff writer to being an editor, I feel The Quill has a lot to offer in ways of experience. The dedication of each student adding their work to this collection on a consistent basis is incredible.
Even though I will be graduating, The Quill will always be a part of me, having taught me valuable lessons about myself and writing. I wish only future success for the publication and would like to thank the editorial staff of The Quill for a great year.
Page 4 Forum Friday, April 20, 2018 By Matthew Dooley Forum Editor www.suquill.com Editor thanks The Quill for a great year The editorials of The Quill reflect the views of individual members of the editorial board. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire editorial board or of the university. The content of the Forum page is the responsibility of the editor in chief and the Forum editor.
