Personal 
Narrative

No matter how many times I clean it up, my desk remains a perpetual battlefield strewn with newsmagazine proofs. It's the most tedious part of the print magazine process– 48 pages with exaggerated margins and heavily marked with pens, it’s our last effort to catch any grave errors before they’re sent to print. To me, though, they represent more than a final checkpoint. 

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My journey as a designer for The Muse was an unexpected one. In fact, I never even considered myself artsy enough for such a job. However, that dynamic suddenly changed in sophomore year, when I applied to be a writer on the staff and to my surprise, became a designer. 

 

I accepted my fate, but that first semester was full of redesigns and frustrations. While I cherished journalism, my connection to it faltered. But gradually, it began to click. I fell in love with the routine of fine-tuning text, the challenge of coming up with thought-provoking concepts, and the satisfaction of seeing my hard work in the freshly printed magazine.

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Everyday, I’m grateful I didn’t give up on this publication. I grew into the role of design editor in my junior year and now, serving as editor-in-chief, I’ve had the opportunity to mentor others. Being a student journalist has given me a second home (the newsroom), the opportunity to meet others with the same passion as me, and an inner drive to always strive for the truth. Ultimately, I hope I can guide those who, like me, once felt lost in this journey.

 

Amidst all the ink and the paper, I’m reminded of the late nights, creative struggles, and above all, relentless dedication that got me here.