The Cigar was never in my plan.
I started my college career over 500 miles away with the intention of fulfilling my goals in sport. I was always interested in writing, but it was my plan B. I never really thought about what I wanted to do for real.
I transferred to the University of Rhode Island a year later, with even less of a clue what I wanted to make of myself. I had recently stopped running track and field competitively, which was virtually my whole identity for the prior five years.
I knew I was still a journalism major. I knew that I loved to tell stories, work with a team and be a part of something bigger than myself. It took a bit of convincing from friends, but I eventually came out to a meeting for The Good Five Cent Cigar.
At my first meeting, I just sat and watched, too scared to take a story, just like most first-timers. A few weeks later, Cigar executive board elections rolled around, and a great friend of mine and soon-to-be editor-in-chief, Lauren Drapeau, encouraged me to run for news editor. This was almost entirely because the position was unopposed, but I was excited! I hadn’t really found my footing yet at URI, and shortly after this very long meeting, I would have the foundation of my next couple of years.
Funny enough, I wasn’t allowed to vote during the elections that turned me into a news editor since I hadn’t been to enough meetings. Immediately, I fell in love with the process, something that I was yearning for after leaving college sports. It felt so good to have a schedule that went beyond my classes, because, as you know, college can get monotonous without something extracurricular.
I loved having something to look forward to, people to work hard for – this super noble cause of informing our student body and the URI community.
After my semester as news editor, I was lucky enough to get to stay with the paper as the production manager. This role has put me behind the scenes much more, and I feel like that fits me very well. I get to have my own world in the office; most of the people working for the paper don’t even know who I am. I bet many of the reporters will be seeing my name for the first time when this story gets printed.
I know it sounds negative, but I love it. I have always been into small-town things, independent businesses and brands that operate for themselves. I like this job because I get to contribute to something important, yet my job is mine. Nobody else is doing it. The production manager’s office, which our compositor, Susan Sancomb, so kindly shared with me, is my own small business.
I like to help people in a personal way, and getting to help build this awesome paper really feels like that.
I have made so many good friends with the Cigar and have gotten to watch it change so much through the two positions I’ve held. I really want to thank Lauren Drapeau and Nathan Robillard for encouraging me to join the Cigar and run for news editor. You guys helped me find this community, and I couldn’t be more grateful. You guys showed me what it really means to hustle; you two work harder than anyone I’ve known.
Also, thank you so much to Zack Petrick, Ryan Pelillo, Justin Theriault and Aidan Garvey for making this paper so fun. In a profession as serious as news writing, you guys made this the most important experience I’ve had in my college career, because without you, it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun.
Ellie Sennhenn and Maia Hembruff, thank you for letting me be a part of the best paper I’ve seen during my time here. You two will go incredibly far on ambition alone, not to mention your work ethic that was enough to grown this paper incredibly in the last year. I am super thankful to have gotten to work with you two, and proud of how much you have accomplished!
To the rest of the e-board, I’ve had so much fun working with you! Thank you, David Okula, for never making me have to wait to put a sports story in and for knowing who Shamorie Ponds is! Thank you, Morganne Judd, for whipping the newscast into incredible shape and being a friend in the chaos that is the media equipment center during finals week. Thank you, Ella Gerdts, for always making me laugh and for making me feel so old. Thank you, Nora Kelley, for always seeming to hear me when I try to chime in from my office in the corner. Thank you, Brigid Locke, for elevating our socials and for being so hilarious the few times during the semester that I saw you. Thank you, Sadie Brandt and Katelyn Drenga, for literally being the backbone of the news section for the past few years as both reporters and editors. Seriously, it’d be nothing without you guys.
After four great semesters and one issue deleted in the middle of production, I can say goodbye to the Cigar. It has been a blast.
