Features editor, signing off

Source: Maddi Langweil

For as long as I could remember, I would read National Geographic and The New York Times to learn through their powerful imagery, choice of diction and syntax to captivate an audience; however, upon joining the Marist Circle I found my own voice to inform and engage people. 

Before I even took my first journalism course my sophomore year, I already knew some of the basics to writing articles by learning from doing at the paper from the upper class staff writers and editors. I wrote my first article on an environmental student’s research on two local streams in the Hudson Valley. It was the first article I was ever proud of. 

When I held the tangible Marist Circle newspaper in my hands for the very first time, I felt happiness and pride in my work. I loved seeing my piece inside the thick paper as one of the numerous articles written by other writers. This is a feeling that I want others to continue to feel for future and prospective writers.  

This paper embodies much more than an informative medium. It is a special news outlet designed to shed light on people, the Marist community and ideas circulating our world. When I started writing about science for the paper and later became the science columnist, I knew other faculty, students and Marist members needed to hear more about student research, popular insects and plants affecting or being affected in our area.

Science is a hard field to cover, but I spent the next three and a half years investing time in discovering how to translate complex ideas to people in a more efficient and beneficial way. Through my time navigating my own interest in science and writing and trying to better myself, I was bettering the Marist community. 

I remember looking up to the senior staff writers and editors and wanting to do what they do. While it took time, patience and hard work to get to where I am today, I am grateful that I was able to be a writer and an editor for such a special newspaper. 

I learned the basic principles to journalism such as how to quote sources, use the correct punctuation and even how to write and tell a story at the Marist Circle. It even enabled me to be ahead in my classes. I learned quickly and loved the experience I was getting. That was one of the goals I wanted my younger writers to feel and experience. 

I took a risk to write for a paper when I had no experience and I took a risk to write about science when it was a section the paper lacked. In the end, these risks enabled me to go on this hard but rewarding journey that I will remember when I graduate. 

As an early graduating senior, I am saddened by the idea of leaving the Marist Circle, but as I walk away I remember what this place did for me and what it can do for others. As I approach the time I officially leave Marist I know I will be forever thankful for the writers and editors who came before me that shared their knowledge and guided me and allowed me to find my voice as a journalist and share captivating stories.

I know the legacy of the Marist Circle will continue and I am grateful to have been a part of it and encourage others to take a change. I will miss this paper and the extraordinary group of students who make it. 

Thank you for everything. 

Sincerely, 

Maddi Langweil, Features Editor, signing off