By Christina Moran '07
I always knew I'd work for my college newspaper. Ever since I wrote articles for my summer camp newsletter, I've been addicted to gathering information and translating it into the printed word.
That's why I was disappointed when I approached former editor Jake Wiederrich at the Beacon subscription booth 3½ years ago during my freshman orientation, only to be told all the positions on the paper had been filled the previous year.
I joined The Beacon the next year as a staff writer. After a few months of interviewing administrators, working with editors, and adapting to deadline pressure, I found a new sense of personal confidence. Even better, I loved being "in the know" and hearing all the gossip about our little campus community. And I became acquainted with a diverse group of coworkers who quickly became my mentors, study partners and friends.
Since that first year, I worked my way up on staff, and this year I was the one with the unfortunate duty of turning away prospective employees during orientation weekend. But now the time has arrived for us to recruit the editors, reporters, photographers and managers who will serve as next year's Beacon staff.
Applications are now available in the Office of Student Activities (located in St. Mary's Student Center) and will be accepted through March 3. You can find more information about being part of The Beacon and other student media groups in the Student Voice section (pages A-D).
All these positions offer a unique, once-in-a-lifetime learning experience. Not only have I gained and strengthened my journalistic skills by working for the Beacon, I've also learned how to communicate and collaborate with other people, how to manage my time under continual deadline pressure, and how to lead a group of diverse individuals in the daily challenges of running a newspaper. These are all experiences that would benefit me regardless of my major or career plans.
That's why I encourage all students to consider applying to The Beacon. The skills you learn may or may not be useful in your future occupations, but they will definitely be useful in the way you express yourself and interact with other people - two things that are inevitable aspects of all career paths.
Sure, being part of The Beacon is a huge time commitment. But it's worth it. I think it's safe to say I've learned more through my experiences on staff than I ever have in a classroom.
And it's always cool to see your name in print.
Caitlin Moran is editor in chief of The Beacon
