I'm a senior English major, and I'm very grateful to be at UB thanks to the wild journey I've endured after joining The Spectrum two years ago.
Specifically, I got brutally made fun of on the Internet by people all over the world after writing my first opinion piece, and I haven't been the same since.
To make a long story short, I wrote a column about my distaste for tattoos. I didn't think my words actually mattered or could affect people so deeply.
But they did; the piece went viral online. I received comments, emails, tweets and hand-written letters from people all over the world who called me ugly, worthless and far worse. There are even two YouTube videos about me.
After reading all the hate and crying myself to sleep for a few nights, I had a major epiphany: If I can reach people on six continents and deeply affect them the way I did by writing about tattoos, what if I produce stories that can make a positive impact in the world?
That thought hasn't left my head since the ordeal. Last year, I was promoted from assistant news editor to senior news editor of The Spectrum, and I published my first piece of journalism that I personally thought could actually make a difference in the community - the story proved UB was not making sure its students are safe around South Campus.
Like I dreamed, the article sparked a big reaction from the local media and community, as well as USA Today College and College Media Matters. And this time, the attention focused on the unsafe students and not me.
This year, I'll be a managing editor, and I am beyond excited to continue following my passion and reporting on as many stories as I can pertaining to our university. This summer I interned at the Tonawanda News, and it's given me great experience that I hope to bring back to The Spectrum.
My priest always says if you have a talent, God wants you to use it. When I was a freshman just three years ago, before I joined the paper, I felt like a lonely student lost in giant halls of UB. I know a lot of students who have felt that way, but it doesn't mean we don't have a purpose.
I followed my heart by staying at The Spectrum, despite feeling mortally embarrassed, and now I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I hope other students at UB know that if they grab an opportunity at this university, even if it's challenging, they may look back and realize it helped them find themselves.
