Today: Mar 18, 2024

Photographing my way to my last Southern News edition

Roma Rositani Photo Editor

From the photographer to the photo editor of the Southern News, I’ve learned how to photograph just about anything. Two and a half years, nine hundred twelve and a half days and one million three hundred fourteen thousand minutes, I have channeled into the newspaper. Although it sounds like I’m complaining, it is the farthest from that. The paper, my coworkers, and my mentors have taught me an abundance of things I will take with me forever. 

Everything I’ve learned from doing this, nothing has prepared me to reflect on the past nine hundred twelve and a half days.  

My life with the paper and my life with Southern have been two completely separate entities. Coming to the paper was a getaway, a place where me and the people I have called my family could talk amongst each other and complain about anything and everything with no judgment. 

Not only have I made a family with the people, I share the same ambitions with; having my sister by my side as the Editor-in-chief, was exciting and a little scary- big sisters are always scary, but she was somebody I was able to count on and look to for help. AP style is hard, and she somehow made it easy. 

There has never been a day where the work that the entire staff did, did not matter in some way on campus, and I think that’s a beautiful feeling.  

The early mornings, the half drank coffee sitting at my desk, and the computers slower than my 89-year-old grandmother have seen to be worth getting a paper out every Wednesday. 

To say thanks to the people who have helped me the past nine hundred twelve and a half days may be a cliché but, I do want to say thank you to my sister, again Sofia Rositani for being the best big sister. Bria Kirklin, the photographer and my close friend, for taking pictures when I genuinely was too lazy. Wula Cham, our Copy Editor, for not making fun of my bad awful go back to elementary school, spelling. Sarah Shelton, our Features Editor, for ranting about her problems and putting a smile on everyone’s faces. Thank you Morgan Douglas, our Sports Editor, for listening to me ramble nonsense while you were laying out your page. And finally, Cindy Simoneau thank you for trusting me with the role of Photo Editor and guiding us through what it means to put out a good paper.  

A scared first-year student with a photography major looking for work on campus led to doors and experiences unimaginable, I have been able to take away so much from the Southern News and would not trade those nine hundred twelve and a half days for nothing.  

Thank you all for making it so hard to say goodbye, I know I will be seeing you sooner rather than later. Ritu Ghatourey once said “Goodbyes make you think. They make you realize what you’ve had, what you’ve lost, and what you’ve taken for granted.”  

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