Since the graphic design, art, photography, ceramics and exercise science electives were filled up my freshman year, I was forced to think of new ways to fill that hole in my schedule. The only available elective remaining was Journalism I, but I had no interest in taking another writing class for a grade. I signed up for the class dreading it and reprimanding myself for not having signed up for electives earlier. Shortly into the class, however, my love for journalism was ignited and I realized the real impact that journalists make in today’s society.

I joined The Lion’s Tale staff anxious and inexperienced, trying to figure out how I could make a difference. I got savvier with InDesign, wrote articles when asked to and attempted to pitch more ideas. The more I wrote the better my writing became, and the more I put into The Lion’s Tale the more I got out of it. As time went on, I found myself not only taking away journalistic skills, but life skills as well. While I was not always on time with my deadlines, did not always want to listen to other staff members and did not always pursue my own ideas, I learned valuable lessons.

First, deadlines have taught me organization and responsibility. As arbitrary as I felt some of the deadlines were, they served a real purpose. When I go to college, I will use the concept of deadlines to help manage my time and produce higher-quality work.

Second, the truth is that most things are run by people above us, and I have found it is important to listen to authority. It is difficult to hear the word “no” to an idea or proposal, but ultimately that is reality. Not every idea I suggest, not every design I create and not every article I edit is objectively perfect, so it is important to learn how to cope with criticism.

Finally, The Lion’s Tale is a staff, not a series of individual members; it has to be a collective effort in order for it to function properly. I look forward to taking the teamwork skills I have learned from The Lion’s Tale and applying them to the world ahead of me.