If I could tell the young girl applying to UT Austin — sprinkling little anecdotes about her passion for journalism and The Daily Texan into every crevice of her application — that she would later become design editor, she would call me delusional. And to her I say this: “Girl, this is only the beginning.”
I was a yearbook kid holed up in her classroom, pouring hours into InDesign in hopes of creating something others would enjoy. While I’ve always had a soft spot for writing, graphic design became my preferred medium for storytelling. To me, layout design is about setting the scene. It establishes the tone and elevates a story into something more immersive and digestible. The idea that a simple pop of color or a single graphic can shape how a story is perceived is what ultimately drew me down this path at the Texan.
Coming in as an issue designer, I was worried that such a big student publication would swallow me whole. I could not comprehend the number of people within the newspaper, but I later learned that this is exactly what the Texan’s strength is — its community. If it were not for my fellow issue designers and Carla, the design editor at the time, I would not have made it this far. My appreciation for student journalism has only grown since then, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this department of brilliant minds.
Becoming design editor was not on my bingo card, for lack of a better term. The title seemed outlandish — something that was unattainable for someone like me. So when I received a message from Kylee, asking me if I was interested in the position, my first thought was, “Did she text me by accident?”
Over the past two semesters, I have found new confidence in myself — in my design skills and in my ability to lead. Working on the Austin City Limits Music Festival and South by Southwest issues has taught me to trust in my creative direction, and I am incredibly proud of how these two turned out (I’m literally looking at them pinned on my wall right now — that’s how much they mean to me). Taking initiatives to improve the design department alongside Sophie and Ana (and if you’re skimming this and looking for your name, don’t worry, I have more to say) showed me that the phrase “be the change you want to see” isn’t just a cliche; it’s something I want to continue to abide by in my future career.
Before I end my first and only story at the Texan, I have a few people to thank first.
To my design department, thank you for giving me a chance to be a part of something bigger than myself. Carla, Katie and Grace, thank you for welcoming me into the Texan and inspiring me to be a leader who advocates for their staff and pushes the boundaries of the Texan’s creative vision. To my issue designers — Gabi, Diya, Amanda, Haset, Emily, Kaylee, Aradhya and Andrea — thank you for your hard work and dedication. You all are the backbone of this department, and without you, there would be no paper. Most importantly, thank you, Ana and Sophie, for being with me for it all. You guys are quite literally my day-ones.
Thank you to the copy department for putting up with my orphans, stacks, widows and rivers. You would think that with five semesters under my belt, my pages would be perfectly typeset, so thank you for all the hard work you put into each page. Similarly, thank you, management — Brian, Erika, Ava, Newt and Kylee — for the endless support for the design department. I have never had to answer so many ice-breakers in my life, so thank you for those! On a serious note, I think I would have crumbled under the weight of my position if it weren’t for the Texan’s leadership. Newt, the amount of love you have poured into this newspaper does not go unnoticed, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. And of course, thank you, Peter, for always dedicating time to the design department (the new computers do not go unappreciated).
To my family who still thinks I design yearbooks, that’s okay — it’s the thought that counts! You all are my biggest support system, and I hope you enjoy the print issue I am sure I have gifted you all by now. To my mom and dad, I am sorry for not picking up all your calls on Thursday nights, but you won’t have to worry about that much longer. Seriously, thank you for always encouraging me to pursue my creative passions, because without your words, I may have given it up a long time ago.
To Sophie and Angel, congratulations, you no longer have to listen to me complain about pixel pushing and late-night deadlines anymore on my walks home from the Basement. Sophie, I will miss our FaceTime calls while you clean your room and I work on pages, but I have a feeling this will still happen at my next job. Angel, now that I am free on Thursday nights, I am going to bother you a lot more than I already do, so be prepared.
Finally, thank you to the Texan for being a constant throughout my time in college. It seems like yesterday I was sitting in the PCL working on my tryout page for my application, and now look where I am. I will miss the creative outlet that design has become for me, but McCombs called, and they want their business major back.
And so, life goes on — one lesson at a time, one deadline at a time. What I gained here goes beyond anything I could have anticipated upon applying. Now it’s time to go out and have fun like a normal college student on a Thursday night, right after I design today’s print issue.
