The semester is wrapping up, which means that it is time to honor a tradition that The Acorn has upheld for years. At the end of every year, we honor the work the graduating members have done here at The Acorn by interviewing them one last time. This year we are saying goodbye to three members of the editorial board.
Eva Esqueda
Eva Esqueda (‘26) is the editor-in-chief and will be graduating with a major in media and communications and a triple minor in French, American studies and film studies. She plans on moving to Jersey City and is in the process of interviewing for United Talent Agency which will grant her an entrance into the entertainment industry in New York City.
When and why did you join The Acorn?
I joined The Acorn my first year at Drew because I had always wanted to work at a student newspaper after being stopped by my high school from creating one. Though I was really busy, I worked with the news editor and previous editor-in-chief Sierra Walker to become the assistant news editor by the end of that year!
Do you have a favorite memory from The Acorn?
Though I have a lot of good memories from The Acorn I would say my favorite ones include winning the most viewed article my freshman year, hanging out with Gill and Sierra after publication nights and joking around with the current staff during publishing.
What have you learned from this experience?
Aside from learning general journalistic standards and principles, I’ve learned how important it is to broadcast student voices and offer student-based opinions about the university they go to in a respectful and professional manner.
What advice would you give to new writers?
Write about anything you’re passionate about and the story that follows will inherently be engaging.
If you could give freshman year you any advice, what would it be?
Keep speaking out and make decisions based on what you think will be right in the moment because it will most likely benefit you in the long run!
Gillian Sampson
Gillian Sampson (C’24, ‘26) is one of the sports editors and will be graduating with a Masters of Education. After graduating she plans on continuing to work at a local medical malpractice law firm as a paralegal and hopefully find her way back into the education world in a teaching or administrative capacity in the near future.
She has also finished her masters project, “Belonging by Design: Tackling the Generational Wealth Gap Through First-Year Curriculum” and plans on having it published and turned into reality.
When and why did you join The Acorn?
My journey with The Acorn was an unusual one, but also proof that just because something does not work out the first time doesn’t mean a second try is not worth it. I joined The Acorn originally as a contributing writer during my sophomore year, though I did not have the best experience due to the leadership at the time and the ongoing effects of Zoom learning and COVID-19. I was disappointed but moved on and did not really think about it much until I met Sierra Walker (C‘25) during my senior year. We grew closer and wound up living together when I started my masters, and seeing her love for The Acorn and journalism itself inspired me. She also knew that having just started my first 9-5 I was looking for a creative outlet, and that is what The Acorn became. My love for writing and sports collided and has now allowed me to hold an editorial position—I am so happy I gave it another shot.
Do you have a favorite memory from The Acorn?
This one is difficult, because stepping into that room every Thursday has generated so many great memories. Maybe though it is that simple. My favorite memory is the bond that I have made with the editorial board, the joy that this paper brings all of us and just the silly moments that allow me to decompress from a heavy workload.
What have you learned from this experience?
To not be afraid of expressing your opinions, that even though you may feel like no one will care or no change will be made even if you did, I can wholeheartedly say that not saying anything guarantees no change. Saying something guarantees that someone that reads your piece will feel validated, that while it may not change anything immediately, the voice is being used to fuel that change, fuel that would be absent if nothing was spoken in the first place. We have the freedom of press for a reason, and it is more important now than ever to take advantage of it.
What advice would you give to new writers?
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. I wound up writing for news and opinions during my time here despite sports being the section I felt the most comfortable writing for. This allowed me to cover other topics that I am passionate about and is something that is worthwhile to do, you never know what door that can open.
If you could give freshman year you any advice, what would it be?
If I could look at my past self and give her advice, I would first say it will all be okay. The girl that logged into her first college class via Zoom from her basement, scared she wouldn’t find her people in this place, scared she would never be able to incorporate her passions into her degree; it all works out in the end. Leaving The Acorn, I wish I had more time. I found my people, and I found a way to convey my passion for sports. I was meant to step through those office doors again, to meet the people that I met and become part of an organization that uses the right to a free press to make a change at the university.
Devan Sutaria
Devan Sutaria (‘26) is one of the sports editors and will be graduating with a double major in biochemistry and molecular biology and a minor in business. This July, he will be starting at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where he will pursue his medical journey for the next four years. Before then, he also hopes to travel to Canada, Switzerland, Panama and India.
When and why did you join The Acorn?
I joined The Acorn in the winter of my freshman year to satisfy a desire I’d had since I was in first grade. Before I wanted to be a professional athlete (a dream that faded extremely quickly) and before I wanted to be a doctor, I wanted to be an author. The idea of communicating information and news while infusing my own insight was an extremely enticing opportunity, and I love that I was able to talk about so many relevant topics within sports while still showcasing their intersection with Drew’s student body.
Do you have a favorite memory from The Acorn?
All the shared laughs with Nicole, Sierra, Gillian and Eva.
What have you learned from this experience?
I’ll tell you what I didn’t learn… InDesign. WordPress. How to get rid of widows without great difficulty. Why we don’t use oxford commas. You know what, just throw anything about copy editing on this list. Half our editorial board’s names (that one’s just embarrassing… we’ll say that’s off the record). Whether we use 11 or 12 point font.
But what I did learn was how to connect with people I had never met before. I learned how to balance the ideas and opinions of others with my own, creating an end product that represented the best of what we all had to offer. I learned the importance of teamwork, and gained an outlet to truly value the insights, backgrounds and ideas of everyone else in The Acorn room.
What is the biggest takeaway you will have after being an editor?
Without getting overly deep or sentimental, I despised art class growing up. I used to pretend to be sick every Thursday, and would shudder at the mere thought of my teacher swinging by my table to check on my progress. When I sat at the editor’s computer for the first time, it felt like an art class. Having to make decisions on where to put the leaves, how big to make the pictures and all the other aesthetic-based choices started giving me flashbacks. I remember thinking I wanted to just stick with the writing and have nothing to do with editing. Two years later, I can confidently say it’s one of the best decisions I made. Not only was it a challenge for me to exit my comfort zone, but the support system around me was second to none. Editing gave me such an appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work of The Acorn, and plenty of special memories.
What advice would you give to new writers?
Write about things you are passionate about, but also write about things you never expected you would care too much about. Being a writer offers a unique opportunity to explore uncharted territories while still speaking your mind on the world events, people and opinions about which you care so deeply. Allow yourself to be multidimensional in all spheres of your life, starting with your writing.
If you could give freshman year you any advice, what would it be?
Trust the process, trust your support system and trust yourself. All the setbacks will subside, but never stop pushing yourself past your greatest limits. At the same time, stop stressing so much. Once you find the balance between enjoyment and discipline, this experience becomes truly transformative.
Allison Cannon is a sophomore who is majoring in psychology and minoring in Spanish and law, justice and society.
