All good things must come to an end, and so my time here at TheDaily Helmsman draws to a close with the conclusion of the fallsemester.
It’s a strange time for me, leaving a post I’ve beenat for seven semesters now — the better portion of my collegecareer. Being a journalist has always been a dream of mine. When Ifirst started out at The University of Memphis back in Fall 1996, Iloved picking up The Helmsman every day.
Cheesy as it may sound, I always dreamed about working here asthe Arts and Entertainment Editor. That was back in the day whenthe talented Danny Linton held this job, and he really made it seemlike the coolest thing imaginable.
I’d been a part of campus newspapers all throughout highschool and junior high, and I knew The Helmsman was the right placefor me. And the idea of merging my two loves — writing and theentertainment industry — together was incrediblyappealing.
I had really high expectations for working here, and the jobnever let me down. I’ve learned so much in these past threeyears — I’ve met and interviewed some of my favoritecelebrities, including 311, David Duchovny and Seann William Scott.I’ve gotten to attend press junkets in Los Angeles allexpenses paid, and I’ve wracked up a pretty impressivecollection of freebies (as the A&E Editor I’ve alwaysgotten the best mail at the office).
But believe it or not, those aren’t the things I’llremember most about working here. I think what I’ll alwayslook back on is just the day-to-day experience of working in aplace that’s genuinely fun.
The Helmsman wasn’t my first job, but it was the first jobI’ve ever had where I woke up in the morning excited to go towork.
Writing about music and movies is the kind of job I would gladlyhave done for free (though the monthly paychecks were a greatbonus).
And while I’m looking forward to my future as a collegegraduate, the Helmsman will be such a special memory for me.
