I wouldn’t trade it for anything

When I traveled down to Baton Rouge last year to merge with The Southern Digest staff on the Bayou Classic Issue, it was fun, exciting and days of hard work as managing editor of The Gramblinite.
However, this year as editor in chief has been a bit different for me. Before even brainstorming ideas about the Bayou Classic edition, I was already mentally drained. I didn’t know this position would be as stressful, sleepless and draining. I take that back, Terry Jones, former Digest editor in chief, told me this summer, “De Eric, this job is time-consuming and hard work.”
Not being a stranger to hard work, I took those comments very lightly. That’s until after I returned from my internship in Florida. From day one, I didn’t think I would be bombarded with phone calls every day from people on campus and in the community wanting to publish something in the paper.
I didn’t think there were going to be days when editors would need more than I thought I could give.
I definitely didn’t think my debut on CNN would be to defend controversy against the paper. Instead, I thought I would be on there interviewing someone.
I didn’t think in a million years I would talk with Al Sharpton on his show.
No, I’m not complaining. All I’m saying is I sure miss the good ol’ days of sleeping eight hours. However, experience is preparing me for more challenging experiences I may endure in life, such as parenting and my career, which may not allow me to sleep at all. That’s something to think about, you know (laughter ).
But despite the influx of work, I know one thing – it’s a privilege to serve my fellow Gramblinites and the community. I don’t consider this a job, I consider it service. Taking a glimpse into what we (The Southern Digest and The Gramblinite) have accomplished is a tremendous thing.
Both staffs have new editors and staff members, which could mean the days are longer and seemingly endless for the editors in chief and senior editors. Thank God I have the best advisers in the world (grin). Although it is stressful in the newsroom, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
It’s always a charm to watch young Black students rally together for new beginnings and stop thriving off past history and start making our own history. I just pray that in 25 years “our” joint issue is still around for my children and grandchildren and yours.
We have still found success in producing the third annual Bayou Classic edition. We shouldn’t take it lightly because with something that is as polished as this issue, it took a lot of buffing and arm work to make this diamond shine brighter.