I started my career at The Spectrum in the Spring of '09, as a starry-eyed staff writer full of pep and potential, ready to tackle the world of journalism. I had been in college for a year and a half at that point and figured it was about time I started to branch out and try some new things. I signed up for the arts desk and loved it right out of the gate. I was getting graded to listen to new CDs, go see new movies and plays, interview famous people like Demetri Martin and Zack Snyder, and to write about my experiences. I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life.
As semesters went by I could feel my writing starting to grow fangs. When I first started out I was weary to be overly critical and offend anyone, but it didn't take long for that to change. I realized that only by being as critical as you can are you able to write the best reviews, which is my favorite thing to do.
I'd be lying if I said doing this hasn't made me the slightest bit cynical. Whenever I write anything negative I instantly wonder just how much hate mail I'm going to get. Nowadays if I tear something apart (with good reason of course) I actually find myself a bit disappointed if I don't get at least one response telling me how wrong I am or how I could even think that "blank" is terrible. Seeing an even disperse of good feedback and bad is how I know I did a good job.
It's hard to think of anything else in my life I've cared as much about as getting better a I writer. With every piece I write, I constantly try to outdo myself and attempt to make it as mistake-free as possible. Obviously it showed because by the Fall of '10 I had worked my way up to senior arts editor. I ran the desk for the whole year and loved every second of it. Now I'm taking over as the senior managing editor and I'm excited to take my journalism career to the next level.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
