Dear readers,

Being involved with this incredible newspaper has become such an irrefutable part of who I am and it’s much harder for me to write about something personal than it is for me to write a scathing restaurant review about Yum Yum Spice or about tips for tailgating.

Since it’s so difficult for me to put into words how rewarding it has been to be lifestyles editor, I decided to go the cliche route and include a quote by a long dead president: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty.” Spoken by Theodore Roosevelt, these words embody my involvement with the Clarion in the best possible way.

Undoubtedly, I have committed more of my time to this newspaper each week than I have to any one of my classes—the professors of which I hope are not reading this. InDesign has frustrated me more than having six hours of class on Friday or attempting to pet a campus bunny; contributing new and original article ideas every week has been more of an uphill battle than a class on the fourth floor of Sturm. Yet I wouldn’t have it any other way because these trials make the end product so much more rewarding.

As do all the talented and dedicated people I work alongside: Jillian Queri and Kellsie Brannen, our fearless leaders who have already infused so much of their passion into this paper in the few short weeks they’ve been editor-in-chief and executive editor. To my fellow section editors who so gracefully manage their writers; to my lifestyle writers, who fill this section with such eloquent renditions of The Grind and countless other masterful articles. To the illustrators who create stunning artworks to complement their writing. 

I am excited to pass off this incredible position to Sydney Kapp, who I know will take all the challenges that come with it in stride and who I hope will get as much out of it as I did and develop as passionate of an opinion about the oxford comma. 

Thank you all for reading!

Xoxo,

Chloe Barrett