In the spring semester of my first year at Marquette, I wrote a series of stories for the Marquette Journal. It was my first exposure to the platform I would eventually love dearly, and in time, be in charge of running.
The string of stories consisted of alums sharing how they met their significant others on campus, another was a story of three first-generation college students’ experiences on campus, and the last: a poem titled “I am First” about my own journey being a first-generation college student.
The poem I wrote detailed the added stresses and struggles I had — and continue to have — which I did not know I would have to face. I was naive to think the whole “college experience” was going to be easy, flawless even.
It wasn’t. It still isn’t.
In the poem, I also talked about the added success I never knew I was going to have or was even capable of having. My words were inspired by the hardships, the celebrations, and those whom I have met along the way who have made each step worth the fight, worth the biggest victories.
Being a first-generation college student is what motivates me to do my best, drives me to be the best I can be. I didn’t know then where I would be now; and as cliché as that sounds, I think it tops the list as one of the most important things I have learned throughout my time at Marquette: Things may be rough. You may get a bad grade (and you will, trust me!), get stuck in a bad partner group, have a fight with a roommate or just wake up and have a bad day, but every moment can be made better. Every new second can be one that you can change and learn from.
Where you are now may not be where you will be physically and mentally tomorrow.
It’s why I wanted to have a magazine not only related to political issues we face because the Democratic National Convention is coming to town, but because what we experience personally, translates to what we experience together, as a group, as a nation.
Take a look at “Paying the Price of Education,” a story about Marquette alum who are stuck in student debt because they chose to make their dreams, their careers come true. We look at larger issues too, like healthcare and DACA support, activists like Maryknoll sister Madre Rosa and even how sports has the “Ability to Unite” others in times of need.
I write this letter now, to our readers, as one of the last times as the managing editor of the Marquette Journal. By the time this issue publishes, we will be in the middle of a pandemic. As I write this, we will all be at home or trying to stay in one place for a lengthy amount of time, as we all try to practice social distancing and make sense of this whole situation.
We will be in the same place, with the same people, away from classes and campus and our normal routines, but we don’t have to stay in the same thoughts, in the same feelings of melancholy and remorse. We can move on, we can stay connected and we can still “Be The Difference” that we strive to be every day in our normal routines. It’s our chance to change.
It’s a time where we are all being tried and tested, but if there is one thing we should all remember, tomorrow is a new day. Next week is a new week. We will get through the hard times, the struggles, the bad moments — together. Someone once told me that for every bad person, there’s at least a dozen good ones: people who will always be there for you to lean on. Remember that. Translate it to the times, too.
As I transition to my senior year at Marquette, it will bring new challenges and mountains I haven’t yet climbed before. I will move on from Managing Editor of the Journal to become the Executive Director of the entire Marquette Wire, overseeing our staff and branches that continue to serve the Marquette community with the latest and greatest news.
It will come with highs and lows, but it will come with the utmost joy to continue to be a part of and to lead such a wonderful, passionate group of young journalists.
And to Kelli Areseneau, who will be the managing editor of the Marquette Journal in the 2020-21 academic year, I can’t wait to see what you do with your creativity, drive and passion. You’re going to be amazing.
I can’t wait to see where we go from here.
