Dominic Baez. As sad as it is, I’ve been addicted to “Smallville” lately. I’ve been rushing through all eight seasons in preparation for the season nine premiere, which airs Sept. 25. But that’s not the point of this opinion.
Watching Clark Kent, Chloe Sullivan and Lois Lane save the world using not only superpowers but journalistic prowess has reignited my love of newspaper. As weird as that may sound, it’s true.
So, as I’ve been throwing myself into all things print. I’ve been hitting stories harder, creating layout designs faster and working with new writers longer. This ridiculous TV show has, in a sense, re-energized me and my love for all the aspects of the Review, whether it’s writing, the layout design, the reporting or the long hours. And the hours are long, trust me.
What I am getting at is this: I think I found that one thing, that one interest that makes me tick.
I never wanted to do anything with journalism when I was younger. To be honest, I was sucked into writing for my high school paper because my best friend told me I should. (She was an editor at the time.)
When I came to Linfield, I planned to major in international business and Japanese. As it turns out, I’m horrible at Japanese, and I was somehow coerced into writing for the Review. It’s funny how life turns out sometimes. Now I’m a double major in mass communication and business and editor in chief of this paper. It’s not what I had in mind, but I’m glad it happened.
So, now I have a message for those of you still trying to find your place, your niche, here on campus: Get involved, journey outside your comfort zone and get busy.
Those of you who have read my past opinions have probably heard this message already, but it kills me when other students do nothing but go to class and go home. Don’t get me wrong; I know classes come first, but how can you pay $40,000 a year just to attend class?
Join a club, participate in Greek Life, play a sport; just do something. I was not interested in Greek Life when I was a freshman, but I gave it a shot, and I love it. I wouldn’t change that decision for the world. And, while being Greek isn’t for everyone, there is something out there for you.
Just as I found that I’m a newspaper dork who loves to correct grammar mistakes and argue over sentence structure and diction, you will discover who you are, too. You just need to get off the couch and do something.
Newspaper is my vice; what’s yours?