I am unbelievably grateful for The Collegian and what it has allowed me to do over the past four years. I started out as a staff writer before eventually becoming the social media manager — a position which helped me get a summer internship at TulsaPeople Magazine last year. Around the same time, I finally bit the bullet and did something I’ve always wanted to do: I became a music journalist and photographer.
As managing editor of the newspaper, I pioneered my own music column Music and Mayhem with Maddie. The results were unlike anything I ever expected to happen. Just for the heck of it, I decided to submit a press application for Riot Fest in Chicago. Big surprise, I got it! And with that came the opportunity of a lifetime. I photographed L.S. Dunes’ live debut, and the band shared all my pictures on social media, but it didn’t stop there. I was also able to photograph my favorite band, My Chemical Romance.
When I got back to The Collegian office, I decided to keep the energy going, and began applying for press passes for local shows at Cain’s Ballroom, and to my surprise, people kept saying yes. Over the course of this school year, I’ve photographed Gogol Bordello, Judah & the Lion, the Bobby Lees, the Melvins, Highly Suspect and even Bruce Springsteen. All just for The Collegian!
The biggest surprise from this whole experience is that I landed on the radar of New Noise Magazine. Since November, I’ve been working for them in my free-time. Never did I think I would land a position at a major music publication, but here I am.
Without The Collegian, I’m not sure I ever would’ve gotten the opportunity to show my writing and photography skills, and for that I’m truly grateful.
Thank you to everyone who has ever read The Collegian and to our wonderful staff who have worked tirelessly this entire school year.
