Executive Editor Katharine DeRosa says farewell

Katharine DeRosa, Executive Editor

Every semester The Commonwealth Times allows graduating seniors to bid adieu to the publication. I won’t be graduating until May, but as my last action as editor-in-chief, I’m bending the rules to accommodate my early departure.

Leaving a semester early stings — even if it’s on my own accord. The honest-to-God truth is that I need a little time to relax before I walk across the graduation stage.

I came to college in 2019 with one goal: I wanted to join the student newspaper. After working as a Contributing Writer for the majority of my freshman year, I was promoted to the position of  Staff Writer. I told my parents with glee that I was going to be on the masthead. Nothing could have been more exciting. 

I worked hard as a Staff Writer, often working on multiple stories a week to prove myself. I had set a goal to become News Editor by junior year, and by spring of my sophomore year I had done just that. I didn’t care how much the pay was. I just wanted to be a part of the team. A year later, I was offered the role of Executive Editor, and I jumped in all over again.

Leaving the place I call home isn’t easy — but I’m proud to put myself first.

I’d love to say I’ve enjoyed every minute of this place, but just like a real home, that wouldn’t be true. Like any long-term relationship, there’s been ups and downs. It’s hard to process feelings of burnout and resentment when they’re paired with feelings of pride and joy about your work. 

My biggest accomplishment as Executive Editor isn’t any of the awards we’ve won, or the recognition we receive from the community, though I am proud of our achievements. The thing I will remember the most is the environment I’ve cultivated along with the help of the staff and our advisors of past and present: Jessica Clary, Mark Jefferies and Mark Robinson.

The CT suffers from burnout and I’ve put my best foot forward to alleviate that risk. I’ve seen multiple people quit because of it. College students left a job — that is supposed to be a fun learning experience — because it was killing them. That’s not how any job should be, yet alone a part-time job in student media.

I saw my chance to make some changes to our schedule and expectations when I was offered the role as editor-in-chief. We’re still growing, but I’m happy to have been a part of that journey toward a healthy workplace.

I’ve made the best memories inside the weird-looking yellow building on Broad Street. I spend more time here than at my house, but I get to spend that time with my best friends working on stories I know are important.

I appreciate everyone who’s given any amount of their time to The CT, but I want to specifically thank my some of my CT family of the past two years: Grace McOmber, Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves, Hollyann Purvis, Katie Lee, Arrick Wilson, Anna Chen, Chloe Hawkins, Alessandro Latour, Killian Goodale-Porter, Ishaan Nandwani, Tagwa Shammet, Rachel Rivenbark, Kaitlyn Fulmore, Clare Wislar, Madison Tran, Gabi Wood, Bailey Wood, Fiona McMichael, Tess Wladar, Solimar Santoyo, Jayce Nguyen, Sarah Elson, Andrew Ringle, Georgia Geen, Noah Fleishman, Ebonique Little, Enza Marcy, Sahara Sriraman, Meghan Lee, Varsha Vaseduvan and Thai Wilson.

You all have taught me so much and made me the reporter, editor and person I am today. I’m so grateful to have known you.

For now, I’ll be around campus. You might catch me as a Contributing Writer sometime next spring, but for the most part I’ll be focusing on graduating, trying to relax and getting ready to find a reporting job. 

Last but not least, thank you to The CT itself. You may just be the student newspaper, but you defined the last three years of my life. Thanks for giving me the chance to write, learn and lead. I’ll miss you more than you know. 

KD is signed off.