As Business and Science Editor for the Saint Mary’s Journal, from January to April of 2009, I was responsible for writing articles in addition to editing submissions. I managed to pen nearly 50 pieces in those few months, while completing the final year of my English degree. Despite the heavy workload I balanced it all, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Articles I Wrote

In December of 2008 I saw an ad for the Business and Science Editor position at my university’s newspaper. In my entire university career, I had submitted ONE piece of writing to The Journal. Disgraceful, I know. I suppose I didn’t have enough school spirit, or perhaps after writing numerous essays I was all written out. Either way, I wasn’t coming from a place where my work was familiar to the staff. At the time, I was wrapping up my blogging job with RBC bank and was looking for a new opportunity to showcase my writing.

In my cover letter I highlighted (highlit?) my recent blogging experience and the fact that I was set to graduate with a major in English. It was good enough to get me an interview (sorry, but you know how the story ends) with the entire newspaper staff. The editor-in-chief, the supporting editors, business manager, website administrator, circulation and even contributing writers were all sitting at the table. I’ve never been one to get nervous at interviews and I wasn’t about to start now. In fact, there was no doubt in my mind that I would be crowned Business and Science Editor.

In my entire university career, I had submitted ONE piece of writing to The Journal

They asked me the typical questions about how I have and would handle certain situations, inquired about my blogging job and recent work-related Europe trip, and essentially weighed whether or not I would be a fit with their existing staff members. Whatever I said, and however I said it, they liked me enough to want me around for a few months. In the end, things went exactly as I had hoped they would. Due to a lack of contributors I wound up writing the vast majority of my section’s articles, which was absolutely fine with me. After all, I WAS trying to broaden my writing experience and expand my portfolio.

What I Learned

In addition to the technicality of learning Adobe InDesign, I learned how to work within a small team in order to produce a weekly product. As an editor/writer I was surrounded by people with very different writing styles from mine, and it forced me to accept a wide range of opinions. Most of all, however, I learned that I possess the ability to multitask, as I was in my final year of university (writing essays, dealing with graduation) and juggling a second job. Through all that, I got my articles written on time and graduated with a 3.92 GPA. Not bad.