Although this is a rather unconventional lead editorial, I wanted to take the time to impress upon all of you how one decision, regardless of how unsure you are about it, can change your life.
My life-altering decision came in 2021. The Drew Acorn was having an open house my freshman year that I was unable to attend, so they invited me to their editorial board meeting to fill me in on what I missed. I have participated in newspaper clubs since middle school, so I had some experience regarding editing articles in AP journalistic style and some technological proficiency on formatting. The board asked if I wanted to be the Opinions section editor since they were in desperate need of one. As a wide-eyed, hopeful freshman wanting to get involved on campus, I said yes. Little did I know, that decision would redefine my Drew experience.
Fast forward through a year of 5 a.m. publishing, late night editing and generally battling a learning curve. Our former co-editors-in-chief asked if I would be the next editor-in-chief. At this point, I had already given so much time and energy to The Acorn—how could I say no? I had some serious ideas for change.
After two years as editor-in-chief, this newspaper is more than I could have ever imagined it to be. This place is a home and a family, and that is not what it was when I got here. The Acorn has become a place where people can learn and grow and where students want to spend their free time, even after eight hours of editing and publishing articles.
It has also become a place where people can be their true and unadulterated selves. Whenever I step into the Acorn office, I know that I have a community of people with open arms who are ready to support one another as well as myself.
All of the tears and frustration that comes from working in a leadership position bears no weight on your shoulders when you know that everyone you are working for is genuine, kind and as dedicated to their work as you are.
I have never met a more devoted group of students on campus in my life. These students—club leaders, student athletes, thesis writers and artists—have so much passion to give this world. They all decided that The Acorn was worth their time, and The Acorn is all the better for it.
Thank you to everyone who joined The Acorn in your time here at Drew. You have been a foundational part of my student experience. It has been an honor to get to know every single one of you, to read your work and to see how all of you have flourished and grown.
You all have so much potential, and please never forget that you have so much to offer this world. Never forget how much power your words can have. If this experience has taught me anything, it is that the words you put out into this world come back twofold to impact you. Every word that ever came out of me for the Acorn—during our scheduling meetings, during feedback sessions and during editorial board meetings—was worth its weight in gold. And those words were only worth so much because of all of the people that the Acorn helped bring into my life and the community it helped create.
The Acorn is the most amazing place on this campus, and I say that with so much conviction. This space—this family—brings out the best in people, and I can absolutely say that everyone involved has brought out the best in me and helped make me the person I am.
Thank you all for being so patient and so kind, and for helping me see the impact one community can have on so many people, including myself. Without all of you, there would be no Acorn. And without The Acorn, I would have missed out on discovering some of the most beautiful and kindhearted people on campus.
Thank you to The Drew Acorn for being a part of me; you always will be.
Nicole Sydor is a junior majoring in English and French and minoring in psychology and education.
