My time at The Vermilion newspaper and L’Acadien yearbook can be described as nothing short of a truly remarkable experience full of learning, laughs and opportunities.
I started my time at Student Publications working solely as a copy editor for The Vermilion, with no real interest in any other area, after it was heavily recommended to me by a friend in class, Marie Ducote, and it snowballed into such a wonderful experience during my time at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
I truly could not have imagined what my time at the University would have been like had I not taken that advice and applied because I have learned so much since starting here two years ago.
My goal when applying to the University was simple; to graduate so that way I could go on to a career in fiction editing. I didn’t have any interest in joining any on campus extracurriculars, sports or organizations, and was entirely ready to spend my time in college in my own personal bubble with my nose in a book.
It was only after being told by a classmate who worked at the newspaper that they were hiring and I should join to be a copy editor, did I take a chance and apply, hoping to gain some experience in the field I want to work in and prepare me for a job after college. While journalism is not quite my long-term goal, I know that the experience I have gained since working here has helped me tremendously in advancing my skills and expertise in editing.
I can’t express how grateful I am that I took a step outside that bubble and joined Student Publications because it has made my time here at the university more than worth it and full of life. From insisting that I really wasn’t a good writer when I first joined to having my very first trial piece being published and constantly being uplifted and encouraged, I gained a lot of confidence not only in my writing and editing skills, but also in myself as a person.
Being given many chances to advance myself in many different areas is something I know I wouldn’t have been able to find anywhere else while being in college. I was awarded opportunities that fostered my growth as not only an editor, but also as a writer, and even dabbled in learning new skills, such as photography.
After being given the chance to take on a leadership role and become the managing editor of the L’Acadien yearbook for the past year and a half, that growth has flourished and taught me so much. I can honestly say I haven’t stopped learning since joining in the Spring 2023 semester.
My L’Acadien team has been a phenomenal group of people to work with and lead, including all of the writers, designers and photographers who have worked so hard and continue to do so to deliver an amazing caliber of work in the yearbook and continue to impress not only me, but also the entirety of UL Lafayette with their content.
Managing a group of college students while also being a student myself, I will say, could be a strange experience at times. With that, however, comes a level of understanding within the office, knowing we all have our school assignments as well as our workload, and this makes for some very compassionate and understanding staff that I am quite thankful for.
Throughout my time with Student Publications, I have learned not only many useful skills and lessons for the workplace and managing a work/school balance while being a full-time student, but I’ve also met and gotten to really know some truly incredible people who I’d like to thank.
Firstly, Morgan Parker and Julia McDow, the two yearbook editor-in-chiefs that I have had the pleasure of working with during my time as managing editor and Lena Foster and Adhamm Safford, the two newspaper editor-in-chiefs I got to work under. I cannot put into words how grateful I am for the belief they have had in me to take on a higher role in the yearbook.
Kay Padilla, Nyria Mustiful, Marie Ducote and Ramudhi Kariyawasam, who have been not only supportive and amazing coworkers to have, but also great friends that I have made and know will continue to keep as companions even after graduation; as well as Alyus Dick, Charlie Martin, and Andre Broussard who have always been ready, willing and patient in teaching me new skills.
Most importantly, of course, is Mr. Tarver, our staff director, who has always been there with an open door for not only me, but our entire staff, ready to talk and teach but also listen when I’ve needed it. I know that he is the heart and soul of Student Publications and I would not be where I am without his guidance.
This organization has always been filled with people there to support me and give me advice, even when I haven’t always wanted to hear it. I’ve been pushed to go above and beyond and try new things even when hesitant and feeling like they may be too hard, such as applying for graduate school.
There is so much creativity within Student Publications that shows in everything we produce and I would just like to say how proud I am of everyone I have gotten the chance to work with because everyone here works so hard, even when it is not always easy or fun, and I have seen many of my coworkers grow and flourish and I wish everyone the best of luck in their future endeavors.
Now, less than a month away from graduation and only a week away from finals, the nerves of leaving the University, even if just for a short while, is daunting. More than that though, leaving StuPub and the wonderful people there is turning out to be more difficult than I anticipated and I would like to say thank you one last time to everyone here who has been a part of my journey at UL Lafayette.