AD FAREWELL

I first grabbed one of the cardstock KRNL magazines in search of another, more creative organization to join. Freshman me was instantly enamored by the cover and even more so by the pages it contained. I found myself on the third floor of McVey Hall searching for the tucked away Kernel office. I found the editor-inchief and creative director at the time working on the latest issue and asked if I could fill a position. They told me they would love to have a conversation after they sent it to print about hiring a new staff member. I continued to visit them in the office so they would know my face. I’m not sure what possessed me to stay on them because I’m relatively shy, especially around more seasoned people. Still, I wanted to be on staff so severely to tell people’s stories, direct photoshoots and help design this publication.

One of my first assignments was to shoot a swim meet for the Kernel even though I had never held a camera before. The photos were unfocused and just plain awful. I attended a staff Christmas party even though I knew none of the 15 staff members.

I had a blog, “Living like a Local,” that I blasted on social media even though I was terrified of people reading my work. Looking back, it makes me giggle a bit because they were probably like, ‘Who is this oddball freshman sticking around?’ However, following two interviews with absolutely zero experience, I was hired as KRNL’s “everything girl” for the next issue. I started as a nobody-kook who overstayed their welcome in the tiny McVey office, but it worked. I have had many roles in this publication, from an assistant to a photoshoot coordinator, creative director assistant, writer, editorin-chief and creative director. This publication and Kernel Media have shaped my college career by making me confident in my abilities and allowing me to explore and grow in my passions. I have found my niche. I have met some of my closest friends, pushed myself beyond my limits, created tangible projects I am proud of, networked and most importantly, found my passion. Best seven semesters I could ever ask for. I love this community so much! I love KRNL and can’t wait to see what’s next.