Why we joined The News-Letter and why you should, too!

Buse:

As a high school freshman, there was one fact I’d made peace with: I was not a good writer, and I didn’t need to be one. While trying to adjust to my all-English classes, I frequently found myself embarrassed to speak and write in this foreign language.

It felt miserable. My first midterm grade from English Literature was a humiliating 70 from an Of Mice and Men analysis — the third lowest grade in my class. For the first time in my life, I was actually forced to think in English, not just memorize phrases.

Until the spring of my first year at high school, no one had ever complimented anything I wrote; in parallel, I had never made an attempt to write something further than a class assignment or private journal entry. Then, for an English Language class that asked me to write a narrative essay using a couple of literary techniques, I was appalled. I could write about anything. Anything, as long as it was interesting to me.

With my (looking back, quite poorly written) piece titled “Why I hate cigarettes,” I felt seen by someone through my writing for the first time ever. I didn’t feel bad for putting my teacher through a rollercoaster of messy thoughts, convoluted storylines or bad grammar. Once I got that first compliment, I couldn’t help but yearn for more. I read, I wrote. I even joined our high school’s newspaper as an editor. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until I came to Hopkins and started contributing to The News-Letter that journalism and writing became integral parts of who I am.

When I felt lost as to how I could preserve and develop my identity as an international student in the United States, I observed that my concerns were shared by my peers and decided to write my first Voices piece. Eventually, I fell in love with the section. I dedicated my column to reflecting on troubles that I knew were not unique to me, and hoped that those who read my articles saw that someone else had shared their struggles and that they were not alone.

Over the last two years, I can confidently say that I’ve been brave with journalism and did not limit myself to one section. I explored many more and contributed pieces that I will always be proud of. I’m incredibly grateful to be surrounded by our club’s community, to be a part of its history and now to serve as an Editor-in-Chief.

You might be thinking, “Writing is not for me, so why would I become a student journalist?” If that’s the case, remember that I said the same thing years ago. Then, my path crossed with The News-Letter’s, where I’ve grown to become a critical thinker and strong communicator. I don’t think any other experience could have gained me the same skillset or community. Writing is for everyone, and here at our paper, we always have something for you.

Buse Koldas is a junior from Istanbul, Turkey majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She is an Editor-in-Chief for The News-Letter.

Lana:

I have wanted to be a fiction writer for as long as I can remember. When my family asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I told them I wanted to be a writer, and they smiled. They thought it was cute. But as I got older, and my answer stayed the same, this question was frequently paired with another: Okay, but what will you really do? As a job?

These questions initially sparked some indignation in me — why can’t I be a writer without thinking about money? — but I soon realized they were important. Novel writing is a risky career. While I didn’t worry much about backup plans in high school, this became an increasingly pressing concern after I graduated: What will I do? As a job?

The summer before my freshman year I started thinking about this seriously, turning over potential career plans. When I learned that my First-Year Mentor was the Editor-in-Chief of the school paper, I thought — well, I like to write. I should join The News-Letter. Some of my favorite authors started out as journalists — why couldn’t I do the same?

So I started out as a Copy Editor, while also writing for News and Voices. I loved Voices. My Voices articles were personal, and in my own creative voice. News, however, was a little more difficult for me. But I committed to it because I wanted to see if journalism — specifically, news writing — was for me.

This is where my journey at The News-Letter transitioned from a purely professional pursuit to something a little more personal.

Though I have always been a writer, I have never been a very brave or social one. So as a beginner News writer, when I was expected to collect attendee interviews at Hopkins events, I wanted to back out immediately. But this could be my career — I had to give it a try. I still remember my agony at the first event I ever attended alone, when I approached a student I’d seen in passing and asked him if he might like to be interviewed by The News-Letter. At the time, I struggled to start conversations with anyone. Now I had to go up to complete strangers and ask them for five minutes of their time.

As a shy person, it is not easy to interview someone, but it is not impossible. And I was determined: I volunteered to cover an event every week, walking with interviewees to their next class so I wouldn’t take up too much of their time. By the end of the year, I found the confidence to approach strangers in Brody to ask if they might have thoughts on Flo Milli. By this point, The News-Letter was no longer just a steppingstone for my backup career. It was helping me become braver out of sheer necessity.

In my sophomore year I became a News & Features Editor, coaching other writers in similar predicaments. I was even bold enough to approach more than 70 random students and ask them to fill out a survey about campus renovations. And I loved it. As Editor-in-Chief this year, I can’t overstate how much The News-Letter has helped me grow — not just as a writer but also as a person — and how thankful I am to be a part of it. This paper gives its writers many things — a diverse portfolio, a wonderful community and, most importantly, the confidence to approach a curious student at a Hopkins event and ask, “Could I interview you for The News-Letter?”

Lana Swindle is a junior from Princeton, N.J., majoring in Writing Seminars and Philosophy. She is an Editor-in-Chief for The News-Letter.