By: Chloe Smith
Coming to Southern for the first time was both the most exciting and the most horrifying moment of my entire life. Having attended the same school for 13 years, I was the girl who knew everything and everyone, and I found my identity in that. As the daughter of a pastor, it was a comfort to know I had a constant community around me and never had to know a stranger.
I was the person who always wanted to be in a leadership role, be involved in any way that I could and fulfill the high expectations that I thought were on me. But so much of that changed the moment I dropped my bags in my new dorm room.
Suddenly, I felt myself losing the passions I once had, growing distant from people I once knew so well and, by the end of the year, scrambling to find my identity again. People say change is hard, but it’s nearly impossible when you have experienced so little of it.
Because of my rough start, I viewed this year as my make-up year, only to realize I had tipped the scales too far. I quickly found myself involved in more things than I could count, finding it hard to turn down anyone’s request. To say this year has been busy would be an understatement, but I am truly so grateful for the immense experience it gave me.
Fast forward three eventful college years, and I can confidently say I still have not fully figured it out. It’s fun to sound inspiring and share a story of complete transformation, but really, my testimony is still continuing, and I see the Accent as part of that continuation.
Struggling to find an identity in college is such a universal experience, and not many can say that they had a constant through it all. I am fortunate to say that the Accent was that constant for me. It found me at an all-time low, at a time when I didn’t think I was good enough, and has led me to where I sit now as the incoming editor-in-chief.
For as long as I can remember, writing has been my escape. Even when I was a kid, I can remember sitting in class and writing my own stories for fun. Looking back on some of those stories, I can say my writing has actually transformed. I now find joy not only in the creativity, but in giving a voice to people who are often voiceless.
Looking forward to next year, my goal is for more community involvement. At Southern, it’s easy to feel like we are in our own bubble, but really, we are one part of a blossoming city. In my time with the Accent, I have had the opportunity to make connections with city officials and members of Collegedale and have seen firsthand the need for stronger community news.
As editor, I see my role as a chance to make a difference on this campus and on the city as a whole. My dream is to have a paper full of stories that truly matter and, along with my amazing team, I am beyond confident that we can fulfill that.
Through my years in college and all the opportunities that have come along, the one key takeaway that I have gotten from it all is that you will never expect what God has in store for you. There have been many difficult times in my years at Southern, and I never thought I would end up here. My favorite verse, Romans 8:18, is a reminder of this very lesson; it says, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later.”
With all the change life throws at us, it can be difficult to see past the present moment, but take it from me, so much can happen when you allow yourself to grow from those moments. If 18-year-old me were told where I am now, I would not have believed it. From a little reporter who had no idea what they were doing to your incoming editor, there are no words to express how excited and nervous I am for this next chapter of life. So, thank you to all who have been by my side, through all the ups and downs, through the many chapters, and thank you to my Southern and Collegedale communities for entrusting me to share your stories.
