In August, when I wrote my very first story for the Current Sauce, I was terrified. Terrified of submitting a poorly written story, terrified of spreading misinformation and very terrified of making someone at Northwestern State University of Louisiana angry.

Now, at the end of my first semester as a Viewpoints Editor, I am no longer scared; in fact, I feel as if my stories do not cause people to feel emotions when they read them, then I am not writing well enough.

My goal as a Viewpoints Editor is to write stories that make people contemplate their own views. It’s a vulnerable position, as many are afraid to post their own personal opinion online for everyone in the school to read.

That is why I make sure that every opinion I publicize, political or not, is backed by facts and my own life experiences. I am placing my viewpoint on a pedestal for everyone to read, to invite discourse. I want to write about the things everyone knows about, but nobody talks about.

I have been, for quite a long time, a person who keeps up with politics. I feel as though people who say that they prefer to ‘stay out of politics’ are people who have not been affected by it, to where they would have to be involved. Politics is ongoing, everywhere at all times, even here on our small campus. Being able to express my views while educating people on unspoken topics has been a blessing. The Current Sauce has given me a voice, and a reason to speak up.

When I learned of the position of Viewpoints Editor, I had no idea what it would entail. My hometown lacked a newspaper when I was little, because of our low population and underfunding. My grandparents often got their newspaper from the parish or another town. I rarely read anything but the comics and horoscopes in the back. My highschool had a yearbook, which I was editor for, but it didn’t have a writing aspect.

I took a chance in applying for this position, with encouragement from my professor, Melody Gilbert, who always gives me more credit than I give myself. My grandparents were extremely proud to see my first story in the Hispanic paper edition, and have asked for more copies to give to the rest of my family. Even though my family is hours away, they still find ways to be proud of me.

This semester, I was given the opportunity to go to Atlanta, Georgia to attend the College Media Association conference. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do so if I had not joined student media. I got to attend so many amazing media and law sessions, meeting with many journalists who are doing work that I can only dream of.

I have met so many students through joining the Current Sauce and student media, that I would have never met without. I have made friends that I will carry along with me through my last semester at NSU, and onto my future. I am looking forward to the prospect of writing more stories next semester, and one day writing in a newspaper after college as well.