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So this thread is obviously months late, completely irrelevant and totally self indulgent but I’m going to do it anyway. (My defence for it’s lateness is I moved then lost my phone with all my pictures)
Here are reflections on my time at the Ubyssey:
Here are reflections on my time at the Ubyssey:
We all come to this place for different reasons, but we all stay for the community we find. In the winter of 2017 I was feeling really disconnected from my studies and my life. I wasn’t doing well in classes, I hated my job and I didn’t have many close friends.
I had seen a post for an open call for submission to the Ubyssey’s magazine. I felt my life had been missing a creative outlet and I thought it was worth a shot to send something in. What’s the worst that could happen?
Well, the worst happened. I found myself completely devoted to the Ubyssey office and everyone I met there.
It was intimidating being surrounded by the smartest and funniest people on campus. I hoped that in spending my time at and writing for The Ubyssey, I could become half the person I wanted to be and grow to be like the people I saw around me.
Here now, I will talk about some people who have specifically meant a lot to me — who have helped me grow to who I am. To sum up what my friends mean to me in 280 characters will not do them justice but I will try:
The first time I remember talking to Tristan he joked about how badly I poured a beer and I didn’t want to admit that it was the first time I had ever drank beer not out of a can. He’s the funniest person I have met, and one day I hope to be as confident and as calm as he is
At first I thought Alex hated me and I have never really had proof that she doesn’t. She always gives me exemplary advice for any part of my life and I’m just so jealous of how darn cool she is
Pawan has probably had to hear me complain more than anyone else in the world. He knows all of my secrets so I can’t stop being friends with him. I hope to be as passionate as Pawan is, really about anything in my life
I could write a book about all the things Bridget has done for me. I truly don’t think that it would be an understatement to say that everything I have in my life is from Bridget’s influence. One time I made them take me to the Gal to watch me cry into my fries about my gender.
As well as letting me meet people who inspired me, The Ubyssey also let me express myself creatively in ways I had never had access to before. I loved getting to write on the niche things I saw around campus
The Ubyssey also gave me the space to explore queer and trans topic in my writing, opening up my world to a history and ways of living that I had never seen before
This new knowledge I had gained and the safe space at the Ubyssey made me finally feel like I was comfortable enough to fully be myself. Funnily enough, this leads us to the most poorly aged headline of all time
I was really nervous when becoming an editor. I was scared that people would be looking up to me in the way I had looked up to the editors of my time and that I wouldn’t be able to make that space that I had enjoyed in my time. (Especially considering how messy I am as a person)
Let’s just say my senior staff did a very good job of walking the line between keeping me humble and constantly having to deal with me being an insecure mess. I am forever grateful to Sarah, Riya and Moe, for listening to my rants and believing in my vision for the section.
Okay I think that is it now. There were so many people who helped me along the way and I was not able to include everyone in this thread. I am blessed to have been a part of this institution and to have made friends that will last a life time.
I guess as a post script one time I remember Moira saying that we& #39;re all here trying to find our group like in Community — a bunch of ragtag nerds who come together — and I just remember being so haunted when she said that bc it was so true
