How is someone supposed to sum up the majority of their college career (three of seven semesters; close enough) in under 400 words?
This is by far the hardest article I’ve written during my time at the Signal. Maybe if I wrote a song about my time here I’d be able to critique it, sprouting my goodbye piece.
I can critique a band’s new album because they continue to write six-minute songs and sound just like Vampire Weekend, but I can’t write a heartfelt article about the time I’ve had at the Signal.
Maybe I’ll just give some background and then write some of my favorite memories.
My first day at the Signal, I walked into the office and had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. If you told me that I would be managing editor and the Signal would be the most important part of my academic career, I would have just laughed.
It’s not that the Signal is a joke (maybe it was at one point); it’s just something you have to experience. Breaking news, dance battles, rants about hipsters, the “Mad Men” theme song and being at the office way too late because you’re still just talking to your co-workers.
The paper really has been the highlight of my academic career. I’ve had great classes taught by even greater professors, but the Signal stands out as what college is. I thought college was going to mean I went to class and left with a piece of paper, but the Signal changed that.
The paper has been my creative outlet for the last three semesters. Being able to rant each week about the latest problem in the local scene or how much I love the new Chariot record has been the only thing to get me through school.
The Signal was never a homework assignment; it was a break from the rest of school for the week. Sure, there were tough weeks were picas wouldn’t line up, or we had no front page and 15 minutes till we had to go to print, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The work put in by the writers, editorial staff and advisors showed each and every week.
The Signal hasn’t just been a place where I’ve honed my writing ability, gained some professional experience and have some work for a portfolio; the Signal is the place where I learned that doing something you love is worth every bit of stress it brings.
Long live the Overture. Long live the Signal.