I stepped onto the campus of Northwestern State University of Louisiana on a random day in March of 2021 to tour the school. After four long hours of driving, I had finally made it to the tour I never thought would happen. Seeing the beauty of the campus, the trees and walking path on Jefferson Street and the pops of purple everywhere made me excited to be there.
I remember applying to NSU because I got a random email from recruiting at the beginning of my senior year of high school. Not knowing anything about the school — only the promise that the application fee was waived that month — I applied.
Months later, I was inside the Student Services building, meeting everyone who would change my life. Matthew Craig, who was a recruiter at the time but is now our student media coordinator, gave me the tour that ultimately made me choose NSU.
I knew I wanted to choose communication as my major, so Matt took me to Kyser Hall to meet the then interim department head of the New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts department. He asked me why I wanted to be a journalist, and I echoed the same response I gave him that day and still stand with today: “I want to give a voice to those who normally don’t get one.”
He replied, “Well, what stories do you want to tell here?”
For the past four years, I have worked so hard to answer that question. What stories do you write, what stories can you write? What story will I write for myself here?
I came to NSU by myself, and the first year was hard. It was my second time leaving a place I called home, and this time I was completely alone. Every day I would question myself if I had made the right decision.
College is the time to find your passion and learn who you are. I’m not saying that college is for everyone, but rather that if you take ownership of your own story, you can create the best four years of your life.
Throughout this edition, you learn of pivotal tips, perspectives and maybe new opportunities happening to make your college experience better. Some of this advice may be repeated to you every day once you’re here, like “get involved,” and while it may be tiring to hear, it does make a difference.
One of the first organizations I joined in my freshman year was this publication. That first Friday meeting, I sat inside Kyser 225, sitting at the table with a notebook out, listening to my then Editor-in-Chief, Brianna Corley. I remembered being so excited to be there and soaking up every word that Brianna said. My notebook was filled with foreign topics like the Associated Press Style and notes on how to write with good grammar.
Every meeting, I would take out my notepad and write down whatever the lesson was that day, and every day, I started to think of new ideas for stories we could write or questions I had, but I never spoke up. Until one day, I finally raised my hand and pitched — very dramatically in front of everyone — a story to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, and gave my reasoning as to why we should diversify our stories. I remember fidgeting with my hands and hearing my voice crack because it was my first time speaking during a meeting, and Brianna replied, “I think that’s perfect, Lia.”
This very long recalling of this memory is to tell you that’s how I found my voice. It was a moment of growth, and the reason I fell in love with The Current Sauce: For the first time in a while, I felt like my voice mattered and that I had a place in student media. But this can only happen when you decide to be actively involved and find your place.
For the past four years, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with many people because of The Current Sauce. I’ve written about topics that I never thought I would write about. Naturally, it has presented some challenges, but with every story I have written, I have grown as a journalist and student.
As you enter your college years, don’t be afraid to find your passion and a place at NSU. In doing so, I have been able to gain meaningful friendships, learn from talented mentors and create wonderful memories.
This is bittersweet as it is the last letter I’ll ever write for The Current Sauce, so naturally I have to leave a few thank you’s to those who have made my college experience the best one I could have asked for.
To Matt Craig, thank you for believing in me and giving that tour that changed everything. I’m going to miss sitting on your couch in your office and complaining to you about whatever is going on in my life. Thank you for letting me be your student worker for the past three years and for guiding me to be the leader that I am. Keep learning Spanish though.
To the New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts department thank you for giving me the most amazing professors and mentors I could have asked for. Each of you have listened to me talk forever and have given me advice that I’m super thankful for. I will carry each lesson you have given me as I enter the big girl world. Whether one about AP Style, how to write a story or lectures on why we should prioritize our mental health. All of those classes and meetings led to my personal growth.
To the staff of my first year as editor (2023-2024), thank you for being my biggest supporters. Most of you were older than me, yet you let me lead you with no conflict at all. Without that support and confidence in me, my first year would have been a disaster and even though many of you have graduated since then I am happy to have been able to work with y’all.
To my staff this year (2024-2025), you have truly made me a better leader. This year was like a restart for me, having the pressure to improve from my first year, and all of you made that possible. Thank you for allowing me to teach you grammar, AP Style, interviewing skills and photography tips. Thank you for coming to our staff events and getting to know one another. This year was unforgettable and because of you, I will miss the sauciest staff ever.
To Kallie Bourgeois, my first freshman hire. I knew about you way before I hired you and I was so excited to have someone who had already had experience in high school join us. Your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed. I have loved seeing you step into leadership roles this past year and am excited to see where you take The Current Sauce next year. I’m here if you need me, and I’m so proud of you.
To The Current Sauce, thank you for being my home away from home. Without this publication, I wouldn’t have found my passion. Thank you for giving me opportunities I never thought possible. There are so many stories that still need to be told and stories that have yet to happen to be reported on. My hope is that The Current Sauce continues to be a beacon of journalism for NSU. I know we still have a way to go, but the need for news and people to report on it will never go away. Student journalism taught me how to connect with communities and its vitalness on college campuses is needed now more than ever. So my hope is that emerging student journalists continue to strive for this and join The Current Sauce to leave their legacy.
But if you’re just here for the college advice, this is your moment to learn who you are. When you graduate and think of your time at NSU, I hope you smile because you wrote the best story you could. So I’ll leave you with a question, like I do during my Friday meetings:
What will be your story?
