By Emma Sargeant.
One word. Maybe. Ridiculous attitudes of pretentious opinions and careless living. Perhaps submissive fall toward habit and the neverending hunger for success and more? No.
Only for old time’s sake would I write in an ambiguous fragmented style as I remember how much I have learned in the little, aromatic, Jibsheet office. Decorated with a decapitated Paul Newman, masturbation-patrol cats, and filled with loud ideas, critique, and a colorful variety of music alongside the debate that goes with it, the Jibsheet will always be a burning memory of a love-hate relationship.
I hated the awkward balance of two jobs, school and interviews, production days, writing stories, being restricted to covering Bellevue-only events, and commuting from Seattle everyday to return home before midnight. But then again, I loved it. I loved the pressure, I loved being pushed out of my limits. I loved having to make things happen. I loved the opportunity of working with driven people, the Jibsheet is not as easy as making a cup of tea, I promise. I have seen people disappear in the overwhelming load of work they are assigned to never return to our little office. Our happy little office. I loved meeting the heart of BCC, the singers of Celebration!, members of bands, painters, photographers, and drama students: these are the people who made my stories. I am fortunate to be involved with the arts to work with people who throw there whole selves into their talent.
I was happy to be invited to help with the last half of fall quarter after the arts section had seen happier days. I have seen three editor-in-chiefs fight to build a victorious reputation for our school paper to be higher than any standard. This quarter was the most challenging, with more concentration on finer detail, the small things that provoke you to squeal in ugly frustration! Result: a paper to be proud of, a paper to share with your friends and work. One that you wouldn’t mind leaving on the bus. A paper that I, as an editor, am not afraid to read! Yes! You have to be a perfectionist when you contribute to a publication, but it’s good, it’s character building!
As I take a step out of BCC for a while to find my own ground in this rapidly changing world, I will always remember that hard work comes with proud results and nothing happens out of nowhere. I have to seek what I want and to race for it. Just like a story, I have to search for what I want my readers to learn from, and go around all corners and through every crack to get a story.
I will be painting portraits of Seattle, building a portfolio, making contacts to run an exhibition, finding sponsors and publishing a small revue with an aim to do everything I can to share my art with others, as well as collaborating with painters, photographers to express culture visually. It all sounds a little far-fetched, but nothing is impossible, not unless there is no effort behind the attempt. I don’t plan on expecting anything, no, that passive ideology doesn’t tempt me, but I’ll know what’s happening. I have to be on top of everything, another important lesson I learned at The Jibsheet.
My section is now my life, I am going to fill it with the stories I seek and make happen. No longer will it be with abstract headlines, or opening with ambigious fragments of nonsense. Everything will be clear, everything will be solid. This quarter’s Jibsheet was an inspiring challenge of piecing together chaos and lack of AP knowledge to create a solid publication of news. Look at it now. It is something to share.
I have never been so proud boys. Thank you.