I'm a Buffalo baby; I have lived downtown in the beautiful and eclectic Allentown my whole life. I read, write, run, play the piano, watch Law & Order SVU marathons, pry my journalism-loving nose into everyone's business, and am always behind schedule.
I joined The Spectrum in January 2011 as a staff writer and was both honored and humbled when I was offered the opportunity to become senior news editor after writing for only one semester.
As a 19-year-old sophomore double major in communication and psychology with a minor in English, I've braced myself for a difficult and intoxicatingly interesting undergraduate career. However, I'm content right now to crease the page, lay down the book, and trust that I'm headed in the right direction without having to peek ahead to the last page.
With my journalistic security blanket wrapped tightly around me, I have always answered consistently when asked what I want to do with my life. Lately, each time I say "I want to be a journalist," it becomes infinitely more difficult to convince myself that I actually mean it.
But I'm not ready to let just yet.
Journalism has been one of the most important parts of my education since freshman year of high school, when I first called a source with my hands shaking and voice cracking. Six years later, as a proud member of The Spectrum staff, I'm delighted to continue my love affair with interviewing and writing, even if we're not destined to be together in the end.
Here's to what is bound to be a fine year of being constantly frazzled by (and consistently late for) everything I do at The Spectrum.
Honestly, nothing could sound better.
madeleine.burns@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
