I have been procrastinating writing this retrospective. Truthfully, I have been procrastinating many of the things that will make up the “lasts” of my Vassar career: turning in my final essay, saying goodbye to my professors and even doing my final load of laundry. It feels wrong to end the routines and rituals that I have built up over these past four years. Chief among these rituals is the editing and production schedule of The Misc, which has structured the majority of my semesters here at Vassar with its Monday and Tuesday production nights, Wednesday Ed Boards, Thursday Exec meetings and Sunday article deadlines. This schedule has repeated over and over again, becoming a constant, reliable mantra throughout my life. It is so strange to realize that this will be the final issue of The Misc that will guide me in this way.
My Misc career started off on Copy Staff. I distinctly remember the interview I had with the Editorial Board during that first semester—walking into a Rocky classroom crowded with unfamiliar faces and stammering out some random sentences about my love for writing and grammar. My time on Copy was lovely and fulfilling. Sitting in The Misc office once a week and reading through the articles of any given section taught me the style and the rhythm of the paper. I remember walking through the Jewett lobby, picking up a paper and proudly showing my friends an article where I had deleted an Oxford comma. I was so excited to see something that I had worked on, even in a relatively small way, distributed around campus and read by members of the community.
Sophomore year, my friend Clara and I joined the News team. During my senior fall, I became Managing Editor, before eventually becoming Editor-in-Chief this past semester. Every new role has brought its own series of trials and tribulations. Every semester, I have learned invaluable lessons and made unforgettable memories.
Being the Editor-in-Chief of The Misc has been the absolute greatest privilege of my time at Vassar. It has been an honor to lead a team of over 50 student volunteers, who each work incredibly hard each week to produce this paper. Every single member of The Misc’s masthead, alongside countless other contributors and readers across the Vassar community and beyond, is essential to the work that we do.
I would be remiss if I did not shout out the students who have made publishing The Misc possible. While these quick thank yous only scratch the surface of the incredible work that you each do, I hope that you know how much you all mean to me and to The Misc community as a whole. Thank you to our Columnists, Photographers and graphic artists: You have made each and every issue this year come alive. Thank you to our Distributors, for ensuring that our content safely reaches the hands of our readers. Thank you to the Copy Editors and Copy Staff, for diligently refining every article and eradicating every evil Oxford comma. Thank you to the Design team for laying our groundwork every week and answering each of our InDesign queries. Thank you to every one of our section editors and assistants, for guiding every move we make and thinking of endless brilliant ideas; none of this would be possible without you. And a thousand thank yous to the members of the Executive Board these past two semesters: to Dasha, for being one of the most dedicated and thoughtful people I have had the privilege of meeting; to Madeleine, for your visionary thinking and incredible humor; to Kathryn, for your eagle-eyed edits and faithful walks back to the TAs; and to Soren, for your keen insights and brilliant writing.
And of course, I am beyond grateful for some of my closest friendships, which have been forged—at least partially—in The Misc’s hallowed halls. Clara: You inspired my love for journalism, and your kindness and insight grounds me every day. I always feel at home when I am with you. Carina: Not only did you show me the ropes of being Editor-in-Chief, but you also guided me through every step of senior year with your wit and passion. You inspire me every day, and you have a spot on my couch forever and ever. Luke: You have been the ultimate partner-in-crime throughout this entire journey. You are quick-witted beyond measure and your thoughtfulness knows no bounds; you will always be my twin flame. And thank you to my housemates—Ashley, Chloe and Wyatt—who, despite not being on The Misc’s Editorial Board, have been absolutely essential to the functioning of this paper. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without your friendship.
In a way, it is unfathomable to think that this retrospective will mark the end of my Misc career. But, I have to remind myself that the lessons I have learned and the skills I have gained will not disappear with the publication of this final issue. Instead, the time that I have spent at The Misc and at Vassar will continue to guide me as I take the next steps of my journey.
Recently, I participated in a game of campus-wide hide-and-seek, which was kindly organized by fellow senior Leo Valenti. This gave me the opportunity to spend an hour wandering around, inspecting the corners of campus that I often pass by in my day-to-day life. This return to a childhood game reminded me that the things we love will always find their ways back to us, even if it takes some time. As I walked on Commencement Hill, I was surprised to see the risers for our graduation ceremony already built and ready for use. In the hot, balmy night air, I looked up at the pine trees and thought of our drought-stricken Orientation Week, which felt suspiciously like this scorching Senior Week, with its silly games and time spent under the tents of Commencement Hill. Maybe, I thought, hiding from saying my goodbyes has also been preventing me from greeting my new beginnings. So—goodbye Misc, and goodbye Vassar. Don’t be a stranger!