This article is a companion piece to the "Your World Today" article. As the academic year comes to an end, The Slate transitions from one Editor-in-Chief to another. Read 2025-2026 EIC Jayden Pohlman's piece here.

My path to Shippensburg University was unexpected, but undeniably worth it. Growing up near Philadelphia, I had not even heard of Shippensburg until I started searching for colleges.

I was deciding between SU and a much larger school, and although it was a tough decision, I could not deny that every time I stepped foot on this campus, I felt at home. When I toured The Slate office with our adviser, Michael Drager, I knew this was where I wanted to spend the next four years.

During this tour, Drager spoke to me in his office about The Slate and how I could get involved. At one point he pulled out one of the papers, pointed to the then Editor-in-Chief and said, “Maybe that could be you one day.” I remember kindly laughing this comment away. Little did I know, he was right.

I could not have predicted this statement coming true, but I am so grateful it did. Throughout the past few years, Drager has always supported me in everything and believed in me in moments I did not believe in myself.

I am extremely grateful for those conversations. I do not know where I would have ended up had I not had them. If I had chosen that larger school, I would not have been able to get involved like I wanted to until possibly my junior year. And now I’m editor-in-chief in my junior year. 

My first two years at Shippensburg University have been the best years of my life, and I owe a lot of that to The Slate. This is the greatest organization I have ever been a part of. I have made memories I will never forget, covered incredible events and have met the kindest, most hard-working team of people I am lucky enough to call my friends.

To all of our seniors on staff, I will miss you dearly and I thank you for every contribution, laugh and helping hand you have gifted myself and The Slate with over the years.

Thank you to the management over the past year, Jayden Pohlman and Megan Sawka for all of their hard work in The Slate and their mentorship as I have moved up in the organization.

It is so rare to find an organization in which you love not only the people but every second of the work that goes into it. I found all that and more at The Slate. I have written dozens of articles, taken thousands (too many) of pictures and launched my very own podcast. Not because I want resume-fillers, but because I truly enjoy the process.

As I begin my third year of college, I cannot express how excited I am for what is to come. Stepping into the role of editor-in-chief is nerve-wracking, but it is an adventure I cannot wait to begin.

Working at The Slate has given me the opportunity to explore passions beyond the lens and fine-tune my professional goals.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to trust the process. I cannot control what will happen, but I can control how I react and what I do with it. When I started at The Slate, I could not have envisioned myself in this role. I was just a girl who loves taking photos. But by far the best shot I have taken was a shot in the dark: the moment I stepped out of my comfort zone.

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