If I’m being honest, I never thought I would be writing this. Writing a 30 was for old people, and I wasn’t old. Yet, here I am. I’m not sure what to do with the mix of pride, grief, and nervousness in the pit of my stomach right now as my time at The Liberator comes to an end. It’s impossible to put everything I’ve experienced at The Liberator into words, but I will try.
When I first joined The Liberator, school was completely online. I was expecting the class to be a serious, writing-intensive class, and so I was surprised that when I first logged onto Zoom I was met with lively conversations about Marvel and desserts. Although this might be cliché to say, I was struck by how close everyone on the paper seemed to be, even online. I was even more impressed by the work ethic of all the editors I aspired to become.
My favorite part back then was when we reviewed all The Liberator issues that would come out. I still remember how easily the team gave each other compliments, and how efficiently constructive criticism was handed out and taken. And although initially embarrassed to do The Liberator counting tradition (3, 2, 1 … PAAAAAGE 1!!), I now say it with pride and giddiness at the present embarrassment on new staffer faces.
A pivotal change in my journey occurred the moment I was chosen to be a sports editor with someone who would one day become one of my best friends. I still remember meeting with the old sports editors at the time, Abigail and Helena, so that they could introduce me to Annabel and pass the mantle to us. I was so nervous, and my only goal at the time, as the people-pleasing I’m-convinced-nobody-likes-me introvert I was at the time, was to not make a fool of myself. Luckily, from making fun of silly photos (KINDLY) of LASA sports players in interesting positions during Late Nights, to writing stories together, to bonding over the tennis team, Annabel and I became close.
When I became a Lead Editor with Annabel I was thrilled. To say that it was always enjoyable would be a lie. The grind for getting stories and pages finalized was real. Late Nights’ stress was sometimes off the charts (but free food, so it was okay in hindsight). However, I had other amazing experiences, from going to South By Southwest and interviewing international movie directors, to watching the next generation of staffers grow into amazing writers, to admiring the final products of The Liberator that I now have shared charge of. Most of all, I will always remember and cherish the thousand moments I laughed and bonded with all the seniors at The Lib right now.
That, more than anything, is what I want to remember about The Liberator. Not the writing, or the interviews, or the work that came with being a Lead Editor, which I all loved, but the people I met through four years of continuous dedication (Annabel, Sarah, LiLi, Katie, and Asha ily!). Many of those people will be with me for the rest of my life, and I can’t thank The Liberator enough for that. In that way, a part of The Liberator will always be with me no matter where I go or how old I get.
