The bittersweet nature of ever-changing communities

I’ve read many senior columns throughout the course of my time at Xavier. I’ve edited some, been present when a few were written and read three out-going editor-in-chief columns. I never thought the time would come when I would have to write my own, when I would be on this side of this particular column.

Everyone approaches this column differently. Some share a great, profound piece of wisdom, others take the time to thank those who have affected them positively throughout their time at Xavier and some wax nostalgic about how fast the time has gone. I could write thousands of words on any of those topics, and they are all quite worthy.

None of them, however, could do justice to everything Xavier has given me during my time here.

Perhaps the most central aspect of my Xavier career has been my time at the Newswire (shocking, I know).
I joined the Newswire staff as a terrified first-year at Club Day on the Yard (which was still the Greenspace then). Doug Tifft (editor-in-chief at the time) convinced me to sign up to write with no prior newspaper experience and no clue what I was doing.

Repeat that story again in six months, replacing “write” with “apply for sports editor,” and it’s the story of how I began spending every Tuesday night in an office with an ever-changing staff, having a good old time while simultaneously dreading those nights.

There were moments where I hated my job. Generally around 1 a.m. on Tuesdays when I had some long-procrastinated paper due the next day, to be specific. But, some¬thing I said in my incoming editor-in-chief column has become more accurate this past year: I’m lucky enough to be someone who has genuinely loved her job.
It has been an incredible honor to serve as the editor-in-chief of the Newswire, and I have enjoyed every minute of it, even the moments I hated.

I have read every word of every page we have printed this year. Sometimes those words ended up covered with red ink, some moved me to tears and some, perhaps the ones that affected me the most, however, were the ones that came from you, whoever you may be.

One of my goals as editor-in-chief was to produce a paper that fostered dialogue on campus, one that addressed issues that actually mattered to the Xavier community. Every letter to the editor, comment online or tweet to the Newswire was something I appreciated more than I can express. I hoped the paper would be both a voice for the Xavier community as well as a source of news, and that would have been impossible without input from our readers (however many of you that may actually apply to). Thank you.

Seeing the progression of this paper and being granted the opportunity to have a role in its
growth has been beyond humbling, and working with this staff has been more rewarding than I could have imagined.

This year’s Newswire staff has become a bit like a family. I joke that I’ll never have to have kids of my own because I’ve already raised some, and it’s honestly quite true. Our staff had its problem children, those who were constantly breaking ‘curfew’ and gave me a headache on most Tuesday nights. There were those who did their work independently and quickly, like diligent older children. And a few who dabbled in both categories.

I am so proud of each and every one of them.

Each Tuesday night, I left the office amazed by the sheer talent and dedication of this group of individuals. It is because of them that I was proud to put my name on this paper each week, and I have no doubt that the paper will only continue to grow under the leadership of those who are returning next year, especially those who will be taking the office that Katherine and I inhabited.

Andrew and Taylor have shown us time and time again how passionate they are about the work they do for this paper; they impress me week after week. When they look back on their time as editor-in-chief and managing editor, I hope they are as filled with pride and confidence in handing over the paper as I am.

Working with this staff has truly been a joy and an honor, and I am confident that Katherine and I are leaving the paper in capable hands, even if it is with great sadness that we do so.

Most seniors could say something rather similar about the organization they’ve chosen to dedicate their time to throughout their Xavier career. There is a strong sense of pride in what you’ve accomplished, sadness about leav¬ing it behind and confidence in your successors. It’s what happens when you’ve spent your time doing something you truly love with people who share that passion.

Those people will be what I remember long after Xavier’s campus is no longer where I spend most of my time. The communities of people we surround ourselves with will be scattered across the world in a few short months, ranging from Xavier’s campus to foreign countries. But those people shape us in unimaginable ways, leave their marks on us and, if we’re lucky, change us for the better.

I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones.

Sabrina Brown was the editor-in-chief of the Newswire for the 2013-14 academic year. She is a graduating senior English major from Shelby, Ohio.