I am ecstatic to be the new Arts and Rec Editor for the Royal Purple.

When I was a kid, starting just before kindergarten so four or five, I would be glued to the news whenever it was on TV (I was a bit of a weird child, I know, maybe I should blame a lack of cable for this one). Honestly, I’m still not sure if I could say why that was, we didn’t exactly have the most lighthearted news. All I know is I wasn’t as drawn to the bright cartoons that my peers were.

In my sophomore year of high school, I took a journalism class. The class was pretty much one that students took to fulfill a graduation requirement. For me, it started as a class to fill up an opening in my schedule for the semester but became the thing that started up my love for journalism.

Taking that initial journalism class eventually led to me joining my high school paper The Hawkeye View, which I stuck with up until I graduated my senior year. I also ended up going back to that journalism class during my senior year and taking it as an independent study course. That class ended up giving me so much confidence in speaking with others and I honestly don’t think I would be where I am today without taking that course.

Looking back, I really owe her all of my gratitude. If she hadn’t been such an amazing teacher, I don’t know if I would have ever loved journalism like I do. I don’t know if my career path would be going down the route it is now.

When I came here, I was not majoring in anything remotely near to journalism or editing. I started off as a Music Instrumental Ed major. I did a teaching student internship through my orchestra my senior year, was heavily involved in the music department, spending pretty much all of my free time there, and was completely convinced that this was the path I was going to go down for my career. Yeah, that didn’t last too long.

After a semester of classes and the realization that while I absolutely love music, that was not quite the path I wanted to go down in life, I switched over to a double major in English Professional Writing and Publishing and Computer Science (which has its own fun story). My journalism classes led me to try out editing which in turn led me to where I’m at now.

So, now I’m the new Arts and Rec Editor for the Royal Purple. The Kaylee from one year ago never would have imagined she’d be where I am now. Even a month ago I’m sure I wouldn’t have thought this would happen.

I can’t even put into words how happy I am to have this position. In the two weeks, not even, that I’ve been a part of the Royal Purple I’ve already had so many amazing experiences. I’ve learned so much. I have gone out to see things I may not have seen on my own and met people I would never have thought to talk with. My time management skills have been given their own little boost.

I’m honestly just so glad I was chosen to be a part of this amazing team and am so happy to be finding a family within the Royal Purple.