A letter from the print editor, Julia

let it, but it can also be a place of growth and resilience. I chose the latter. When you’re thrown into the vastness of a position such as this, you just have to keep swimming. Throughout the year, this has been my mantra, and I swam. I swam to the finish line, now passing the torch to the next editor-to-be.

BY JULIA SHANDS Print Editor-In-Chief

When given the role of editor-in-chief, you enter into the unknown. The unknown can be an intimidating and fragile space if you

Having the privilege of telling Ouachita’s stories has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. For one, I was reminded of the importance of storytelling. Publishing a moment in time is so significant because as Ouachita shapes and shifts with the times, publications ensure our history has been documented. What a cool feeling it is to have had a part in recording headlining moments in Ouachita’s history.

As print continues to die, I feel lucky to have gotten to know the feeling of Ouachita’s stories at my fingertips. Moments become more nostalgic and honorable when they rest in your hands. Students and faculty who were selected as the cover got to know the feeling of celebration and recognition as people from all over campus picked up an edition just because their faces resided on the front page. I believe this is what our school is all about—connectivity and rooting for each other’s testimonies. I’m thankful to have been the editor for an institution that intertwines both.

When embarking on something new, you’re likely to fail, and I failed often. I learned that mistakes are OK and necessary for improvement. I missed commas, misspelled words and didn’t always follow newspaper layout rules. Although I didn’t reach perfection every time, I feel as though I produced a paper that embodied what Ouachita is as a university.

Speaking of perfection, it’s my enemy. I write about this now as

I’m on the other side, but there were moments when I was angry at myself when I made mistakes. My mind would immediately tell me that I was a bad editor and that I didn’t deserve to be in this seat. This is the classic imposter syndrome that a lot of us know well. I had to learn to give myself grace and that my hard-earned four years at Ouachita led me to this position for a reason. These thoughts were my Goliaths, and I held them captive like I was David. Beauty and greatness come from unequal odds, but these odds were never my disadvantage; they were to my advantage. As self-doubt and a lack of confidence swarmed, I used these thoughts to work a little harder and push myself a little farther. I discovered that I don’t need affirmations from others to know that I’m doing a good job, but I can find contentment within myself. No one supported David. No one thought that he would defeat Goliath, but he believed in himself. Through this position, I’ve learned to believe in myself even without the belief of others.

I now sign off as print editor-in-chief as an individual that’s been challenged and discovered her worth. Many hours have been spent, tears have been cried, laughs have been laughed and many moments have been celebrated within the four walls of the newsroom. With the amount of time that I’ve spent in this place, it’s become more than just a newsroom. It’s a newshome, and my staff has become my family. The Signal has taught me perseverance, self-compassion and the importance of deadlines. I’ll forever be marked by my time in the editor’s seat. So, if you’re still reading this, take the leap, be all in and know that you’re capable of far more than what you think you are.