Saying goodbye: Senior sendoffs

Hallie Gallinat and Kassandra Darnell comment on their time at The Reflector

By Hallie Gallinat REFLECTOR ALUMNA

During my sophomore year of high school, I joined the student newspaper as a writer. I barely knew anything about the inner-workings of a newspaper, but I loved writing, so I figured I would give it a shot.

Come production time, my teacher came over to check on my page, only to see I had barely done anything. I had greatly underestimated how important and imminent our deadline was, and, because I was sharing a page with someone else, I was preventing them from working on their section. My teacher stayed late with me and the editor-in-chief to work on my page. I was the last person done, and I had to come in the next day to finish the page.

I went home that night, thinking to myself, “Maybe I am not meant to be a journalist. Maybe I should just continue to work on becoming a graphic designer.”

Well, high school me, joining that class was the best decision you ever made,because it led me to the University of Indianapolis and The Reflector,and what I was truly meant to do in life.

While applying for colleges, I had heard about UIndy’s outstanding communication department and student newspaper. I knew UIndy was the school I was destined to be at; it just seemed like a place I would belong. I could not have been more correct. I can not even count the ways journalism has positively benefited my life. When I joined my high school newspaper, I was a shy, introverted sophomore who had a hard time talking to others. Now, I am far more outgoing and confident when interacting with people. If I did not take journalism back in high school, I would have not had the opportunities I had to really come out of my shell.

Adding onto that, when I was on my high school newspaper staff, I was horrified of becoming an editor. I was worried I would not be able to handle everyone else’s stories on top of my own–let alone in addition to my school work. Because of that, I never held an editorial position in my high school newspaper. However, when I joined The Reflector, I knew it was time to move up to an editorial position, and I not only proved that I was capable of holding an editorial position, but two at once. If I had told my high school self that, I do not think she would have believed me.

My journalism experience also gave me the opportunity to interact with so many types of people and tell their stories.

From my time on The Reflector, I have interviewed artists, athletes, actors and so many others. Having the opportunity to tell these people’s stories is a unique job that I am proud to have held.

By far, though, the best aspect of writing for The Reflector was being with the people who ran it. We were more than just a newspaper staff; we were a close group of friends. We supported each other not just with newspaper-related matters, but with personal situations. I will never forget our late-night productions together, the stress of work being relieved by the most random conversations we could think of and laughing until our sides hurt. And, through it all, we not only published an award-winning newspaper, but had fun doing it.

However, my time at The Reflector was cut short by my early graduation. Leaving the newsroom for the last time hurt. I was leaving not only my co-workers but my friends as well. But, I knew deep down it was time for me to leave and show the rest of the world what I can do.

I have so many people to thank for helping me get to where I was and where I am going to be, starting with Jeanne Criswell and the amazing communication department at UIndy. I truly cannot thank you enough for all the support you have given me during my time at UIndy and beyond. To my high school newspaper teacher, thank you for seeing the journalist within me and always being there. I owe so much of where I am now to you. To the alumni of The Reflector , thank you for continuing to be there for me through online means.

And to all the current and upcoming members of The Reflector, I have no doubt that you will keep working hard to make The Reflector what it is. I really do miss writing for The Reflector and getting to see you all everyday but I am confident you will continue to do great things, and I promise I will too.

By Kassandra Darnell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The beginning of my time on The Reflector was not what I expected, to say the least. I joined this staff as a freshman in the Fall of 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coming into college while the whole world was shut down resulted in a lot of boredom and feeling lost in a new place with no real way to make friends. And after four years on the student newspaper in high school, joining The Reflector was familiar territory. I joined the class and was quickly able to crank out stories while learning more about the campus community.

After one semester on staff, I became an Editorial Assistant for Reflector alumna Kiara Conley, who was the News Editor at the time. Working with Kiara, I became more familiar with the editing process and more versed in news writing, in particular. Additionally, joining the editorial staff helped me make more friends, despite only communicating virtually. College still was not as fun as I hoped, but it was getting better. At the end of Spring 2021, I applied to be the News Editor for the next year and solidified myself amongst The Reflector editorial staff. And with in-person classes resuming the following semester, things were looking up.

Actually going into the newsroom and interacting with other members of The Reflector editorial staff was my first opportunity to make friends outside of my freshman dorm. I was quickly met with a tight-knit community that deeply cared for one another. Whenever I doubted myself as a writer or editor, there was always someone there to help and motivate me. This group of fellow journalists became my biggest support, and I always tried to be the same for them. And outside of the newsroom, I formed long-lasting friendships with like-minded people. I soon learned the true meaning of camaraderie as I spent late nights in the newsroom, talked for hours in campus parking lots and went to (cheap) steak dinners on a whim. My time on The Reflector has also shown me what it means to be a leader and a mentor. I am grateful to have been a part of a staff that supports me every step of the way, even after they have graduated and I am still making my way as a student journalist. My fellow staff members acted as examples of great leaders, which was something I internalized as the News Editor and when I became the Editor-in-Chief. While many of my friends are alumni now, they continue to be some of my biggest cheerleaders and have helped me become a great mentor for all of the new people on staff this past year.

However, I think the most formative time for me on staff has been this past academic year. Taking on a leadership role has helped me become a better journalist because I frequently have to help my staff with tough decisions or teach them the different aspects of being editors. I have learned the importance of harmony between leaders while working alongside Managing Editor Olivia Cameron, whom I would not have been able to do this job without.

I am grateful for her and all of her amazing qualities every single day. On top of that, I have become extremely close with some of my fellow editors, like Mia Lehmkuhl and Hannah Hadley, who inspire me to work hard for the sake of others, but also consistently show me that hard work pays off.

Ultimately, my college experience would have been vastly different without The Reflector. I have made some of the best friends I have ever had while a part of this staff, and each person I have befriended along the way has my undying gratitude and appreciation. Each of these friends have helped me to become a better journalist, leader, companion and person. I can easily say that I would not be who I am today without their constant love, support and acceptance. While I am excited to move on to the next chapter of my life, a piece of my heart will always be with this staff, and I wish them all the best. I know they will be great.