By Kristen Santer 

I first joined the copy editing team of The Fordham Ram because I wasn’t sure what clubs I wanted to join. Like other students here (sorry guys), I had a resigned apathy to getting involved and participating in anything. I already had a solid group of friends and a decent GPA. I didn’t think I needed much else.

After a year of working disinterestedly at jobs and internships, it was time to turn my interest towards other extracurriculars. I decided to apply for a position as an editor for The Fordham Ram, mostly out of encouragement by our current editor-in-chief and my good friend, Laura Sanicola. I am hugely indebited to her because it made all the difference not only in my college experience, but also in my career and life plans.

I always enjoyed writing, and my ability to churn out five page papers in a couple hours is the only reason I get good grades. I never really thought that I could make a career out of writing. I believed my future would be in marketing, since it was at least a somewhat interesting career path with a decent paycheck.

Well, I said goodbye to a decent paycheck and a good standard of living and decided to enter the competitive, low-paying and thankless field of journalism. Becoming involved in The Fordham Ram ignited my appreciation, respect and love for journalism. Laura and I frequently traded media updates and inside jokes as we slowly pushed our way from internship to internship. As she started specializing in business journalism, I decided to ignore all realistic expectations and enter film journalism.

I love film, but I had always considered this passion more of a hobby than a potential career. So I set it aside as a freshman and took on internships in marketing and public relations in rather dull fields (i.e. business services). My time and experience as an editor and writer for The Fordham Ram gave me the encouragement and necessary skills to apply for film journalism internships and I actually got them. I was completely shocked when this started to happen, and although nothing is secure, I feel confident and excited about my entry into the field.

Discovering a dream career path is extremely important for a college student. I was worried that I would be stuck at a subpar job and unsure of what else to do. I have to thank The Fordham Ram for helping me realize my dream, for God knows where I’d be without its influence and encouragement.

A lot of this support comes from the wonderful staff that I have come to know these past two years. Although I said goodbye to some good friends last year, I made some new ones among the incoming staff of this volume. As much as they can be supportive, they can also be very humbling. I know that I will see a lot of these faces succeed in journalism, and perhaps even compete against them for a job in the future.

I have to give special thanks to my Opinion Co-Editor Margarita Artoglou. I could have been stuck with an editor whom I consider an acquaintance, but luckily we have ended these two volumes together as great friends. Not only did she revitalize my love of classic rock (throwback to Def Leppard), but she also helped me become a better writer and editor. Whichever position she holds in the next volume, I know she will continue to do a great job and encourage a new generation of budding journalists.

Thank you to everybody at The Fordham Ram and to the newspaper itself for helping me solidify my path in life. Please pray for me and the other seniors to receive great jobs and apartments at least somewhat bigger than water closets.