Newspaper wasn’t even on my choice sheet. I had applied for Audio Visual Production (AVP) and thought that newspaper and yearbook were the same—not that I cared. As a senior, I just needed a tech credit.

The first day of newspaper class, I was immediately greeted with the year’s first LASA Liberator issue, the one the editors had started creating the summer issue in July. I heard a girl grumble about how the printers made the first background graphic too dark, and the staff list was incomplete, as she circled parts of the paper with a blue pen. I learned later that her name was Megan, one of two editor-in-chiefs, and that she was making notes for improvement. She wasn’t the only one; several editors wrote notes, meticulously checking every detail on that 15 by 22.75-inch sheet. 

Now it’s April, and the year is almost over. 

My debate career has just ended. After my last debate, I started crying. I mean sobbing, red nose, the whole deal. I loved debate—it was something I was good at, but more than that, it was something I put my life into: it gave me passion and community. Whenever I lost, it felt really painful because I was that invested in it. However, when I reflect on my career, I’m glad I cared enough that I could feel that hurt. Even though it sucks sometimes, feeling that passion is a part of living a complete life, one where we accept the good and the bad as a part of caring. 

After 9 months as a first-year staff writer, I’ve been able to witness how much care goes into every edition that’s made. Every editor has to put in so much effort, working sometimes even at night in the humid (and occasionally smelly and rat-infested) newspaper room. This work culminated not just in a well-done final product, but in community and fulfillment. It can be easy to be indifferent, acting apathetic saves time and potential pain, but you have to take that risk, investing yourself to reap the rewards. 

For the next generation of newspaper staffers, policy debaters, or high school freshmen—I hope you care about something too. Care enough to write with intention, edit until every word is polished, circle every small detail, it doesn’t matter how many people read it—to care is its own reward.