Lacey Alexander
Staff Writer
Every time I go home for the weekend, my dad asks me the same question: “Have you written anything for the Tropolitan lately?”
He reads every article, from the A&E story about concert chorale going to Carnegie Hall to the news story I wrote about the late Dr. Henry Barwood, and he makes sure to give them all a “like” on Facebook.
When my mom read the opinion column I wrote about Brock Turner and the injustice for rape victims in the American justice system, she said it was the proudest she had ever been of me.
Every time I was overwhelmed and wanted to leave the staff, Mom was the first to remind me how much I love writing for the paper and how this hard work was preparing me for the real world.
A lot of what I do is for me, but what motivated me to write on those nights I didn’t think I could write anymore was telling myself I was doing this work for my parents, because I knew how proud they would be if I could power through.
Working on this paper has made my mom and dad proud, which alone is worth the past four years.
This paper has done so much more than for me. I’ve improved as a writer and a reporter.
I have met many different kinds of people and made several valuable connections because of the Trop. I’ve gotten to know music majors, Spectrum members, English professors and many other faces around campus.
When I was anxious about reaching out to a source, or when people just would not cooperate, Assistant Professor Steve Stewart was the first to offer support and help.
Draven Jackson has been a phenomenal editor and mentor. She is always a calming voice when things get chaotic. She has been supportive and helpful, and I know I probably won’t have another boss as good as her for a long time.
I’ve come a long way since Kianna Collins was texting me every week chewing me out for my horrible use of AP style. Even when my articles had little sources, or were hundreds of words under the minimum count, she still managed to edit my stories into something presentable. I still don’t know how she did it.
The classes I’ve taken at the Hall School of Journalism have taught me a lot, but I’ve learned the most from working at this paper. I’ve heard many different perspectives and gotten to give several voices a chance to talk about things they’re passionate about.
Everyone who declares a journalism major will leave Troy a better journalist. I’m leaving the Trop a better person.
So, here’s my last piece for The Trop, and I know my Mom and Dad will be very proud.
