I’ve been part of The Cascade for a year and a half and though my time at the paper has been short-lived, and I have a long list of things that I never got to tick off my to-do list, I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.
UFV is notoriously known as a commuter school, and as someone who regularly drives an hour to campus each way, I am the definition of a commuter student. I spent my first couple of semesters hiding in my car in between classes because I was too anxious to sit in the SUB without the security of familiar faces. I drove to school, went to class, spoke to nobody, and drove home. And then the pandemic hit.
Flash forward a couple of years and I am proud to say that I have worked in a variety of roles at The Cascade — sometimes three at once — and have spent the last year working as the Managing Editor. Such opportunities have arguably given me a stronger portfolio and more skills than my education could’ve ever provided. And now that I brace myself for graduation, I can confidently say that I am venturing out into the world with optimism — all thanks to a silly little job at a student newspaper.
It sounds incredibly cliché to admit that I truly am a completely different person than I was before joining. I no longer sit anxiously in my car alone between classes; I am surrounded by amazing people who fill our wonderful office with so much life and vibrant conversation. I have learned to trust my gut, be a leader, speak up for myself, and collaborate with fellow writers, illustrators, and editors who are far more talented than I’ll ever be — I found a place that is encouraging of my passions and pushes me to step out of my comfort zone, and for that, I am forever grateful.
To those of you who may be struggling to find your way at UFV and are scared shitless (like I was) to join campus organizations, I challenge you to reach out anyways. Join a group of like-minded people and participate in something during your time at UFV. It doesn’t have to be The Cascade (although I am certainly biased and think we are the best), it can literally be anything that you feel best aligns with your passions, hobbies, or interests. There is no better feeling than being a part of a community that supports you and provides you with the tools to be the best version of yourself.
As I sign off from my role, I want to thank all the folks at The Cascade for being so amazing and for riding this wild ride with me. And to all our readers, thanks for putting up with my articles and for supporting our humble student paper. I’m stoked to see how it continues to grow, as I am sure it will accomplish even greater things under new management. Here’s to the next chapter!
Sydney is a BA English major, creative writing student, who has been a content contributor for The Cascade and is now the Opinion editor. In 7th grade, she won $100 in a writing contest but hasn’t made an earning from writing since. In the meantime, she is hoping that her half-written novels will write themselves, be published, and help pay the bills.
