Just keep writing, people will support you

Just keep writing.

This was a mantra that I seemed to adopt and quickly fell into when I joined The Eagle, especially after becoming the sports editor. When taking over the role January 2021, the phrase was more persistent, because we didn’t have reporters, especially for sports. This made me write four to five articles nearly every week.

Just keep writing.

My first spring originally seemed to hit hard, but each semester seemed to progress farther than I thought it would. But with a new athletic program moving into fall, I was bubbling with excitement to return to my sports responsibilities from rodeo to wrestling.

Just keep writing.

With a staff of four editors, two co-advertising directors, a digital content director, a podcast director and half a reporter, us editors took on overflow of other sections, like play previews, features and columns on top of only having two photographers, including myself, that have photos each edition.

Just keep writing.

But that’s not enough. There are assignments for a schedule of five classes like readings, questions, lectures, research, essays, studying, exams, or just meeting for class. Most assignments as a double major in history and communication arts are written-centered grades.

Just keep writing.

Finish class work, photograph sports, stress, write articles, take tests, grow frustrated with a couple people, lay pages, venture to RLA events, stay up late or an all-nighter, apply for graduation, copyedit, anxiety, pass classes, try shutting off the spinning thoughts, tutor for writing, panic attack, distribute newspapers, deal with dorm room drama, order cap and gown, interview for job, burnout, attend club meetings, other responsibilities… write on controversy.

Just keep writing?

“Yes.” But I could just leave. “Keep writing.”

This isn’t a flowery farewell. I want and need to be honest. Honesty is better than pretending my semester wasn’t an emotional and mental roller coaster which hasn’t been a joyride. 

Despite those moments of tearful burnout, and a large desire to quit, I will keep writing. Despite having optimistic beginnings to some seasons, I will write another crushing story about a team taking another loss, growing close to the teams, but wondering can they still protect the rock?

Or the questions that run through my head, the doubt that’s always there. “Is this the profession that I really want to be in?” “You know that article that completely crushed you, making you cry days in a row and completely exhausted for about 10 days after it went to press, that will be the rest of your life.” Could I even do that? How about we just free the press instead of worry about the freedom of the press.

Despite facing a number of troubles—the newspaper, classes or life drama—a support group was the thing that got me through. Even if I didn’t let them do my homework or write my articles, the moments of relief from the stress allowed me to get the work done and it made me want to go back to classes and the newsroom each week, even when it would be easier to just roll over and stay in bed.

It was the “Good job, keep doing what you’re doing,” from professors; “I could never do what you do” from classmates; and “I’m proud of the work you’re doing,” from friends and family. Those were the things that kept me going; they kept reminding me the reasons why I love my job and I just keep writing.

At least it won’t kill me, and I honestly wouldn’t change anything about working at The Eagle. Despite the tears and the hours spent working on photos, I have learned more from this newspaper than I ever would’ve in classes. I would have never known how to research, contact sources and write a story that if put together wrong could be libelous if I wasn’t the sports editor.

“After everything, it’s the last edition, didn’t you make it out alive?”

I don’t know. I just kept writing.