Fond Memories

ABRAM TABOR

News Editor

One of the things I deal with is grappling with the reality of who I am and the idea of who I want to be. I have often had a desire to be something more: a great sports player, a successful creative author, a classroom genius or a hometown hero.

However, when I look at my life experiences these past few years, and even as a whole, I am surprisingly happy with who I am.

Working with the Muleskinner, I had some great opportunities to learn and develop my skills, to meet amazing people and work with an award-winning team.

Life looked a lot different when I first got involved with the Muleskinner. The very first story I wrote with this newspaper was

“Making Your New Year’s Resolutions a Reality.” I am not very proud of that story, it is just as cheesy as you might expect from the name and reads like an essay rather than an article, but I think it was a fitting beginning to a nearly four-year story of growth and change.

In an internship with The Sedalia Democrat, I interviewed state and local leaders, provided coverage for protests over the overturn of Roe v. Wade and even got to write a crime story about a multi-county police chase.

At college, I got to grow in and learn more about my faith as a Christian with The Navigators collegiate ministry, make longlasting friendships and train myself for a future beyond graduation.

All that said, a worldwide pandemic overshadowed the majority of all these experiences. COVID-19 was a major factor in my life at the University of Central Missouri. And yet, I feel that I have changed for the better, that I have grown as a person and as a professional. My thanks to the Muleskinner teams of present and past, The Navigators, The Sedalia Democrat, The Beat and all the others who have been part of my journey. I hope for the best for all these places. I know and trust in the wonderful people who will continue to work; especially at the Muleskinner to keep publishing stories for students by students.

After living in Nickerson Hall for two years, I grew very familiar with the saying written on the side of the Friendship Tower in Selmo Park: “Who is wise? He who was the most difficult and tedious thing in the world.

Nixon eventually realized that if she was going to become a better journalist, she had to conquer AP style— so she did. It was anything but easy. Every time she wrote for the Muleskinner she picked apart each line of her work, to ensure she followed AP style guidelines. Once again, it was the most tedious job in the world.

Nixon had not realized the progress she had made until she was offered the position of the Muleskinner’s copy editor. Insert shocked face here. Shortly after, she was offered the copy chief position. Bottom line, you can do it if you try.

Nixon not only gained AP style experience, but she also gained new friendships and networked— a lot. Nixon had always been a social butterfly but crawled into her shell when she made the move from her home country of the Bahamas to the United States which seemed like a whole new world. It was overwhelming and as a result, she became a reserved person. Going out into the field reporting forced her to be the person she was before. Nixon experienced her first breaking news story with the Muleskinner when UCM students and staff were offered rides in a Blackhawk helicopter. She got to meet prominent faculty members that make UCM what it is. Best of all, she was awarded the opportunity to be part of a team that strives for greatness. Nixon will always remember and appreciate her time as part of the Muleskinner family.