Lessons from a transfer student short on time

By OWEN RUDERMAN

Finding time to sit down to write this has been difficult. You might think that’s because we’re dangerously close to finals, or because the senioritis is really kicking in. And while those are both true, the actual reason I’ve put off my final column is because I dread saying goodbye.

I fondly remember transferring to UC Davis — the shocking heat, the thrill of a new town, the seemingly endless possibilities at my fingertips. And yet, I was acutely aware that my stay in Davis was limited; I only had two years instead of four. I knew that I would have to use my time wisely.

Most of the three years I spent at community college was not spent wisely. I was floundering around, trying desperately to find what it was I cared about, what it was I wanted to do. I tried everything under the sun — computer science, design, education, philosophy, chemistry. Even when I finally settled on English and transferred to UC Davis, I wasn’t fully sold.

But it was The Aggie that changed that. When I arrived in Davis, I immediately started searching for a way to get involved in journalism. Something I’m unable to put my finger on just drew me in that direction. Maybe it was all that time I spent reading terrible articles and thinking, “I could do better.” Maybe I just thought I had something to say. Either way, journalism interested me. And even though I had no form of journalistic experience, I was determined to get involved.

 And what a wise decision getting involved with The Aggie ended up being. I started out as a humble opinion writer (despite wanting to be a humorist or write on the features desk), and fell in love with writing hot takes and silly columns. Then I took the leap and applied for opinion editor — a responsibility I wasn’t sure I could handle. But I’m so glad I took the chance because the people I’ve met, the work I’ve done and the experience I’ve gained are invaluable to me. This is it for me now — journalism, for better or worse.

During my time at Davis, I’ve generated my fair share of regrets. I regret not getting more involved in club sports. I regret starting some papers too late, I regret taking certain classes. But I’ve never regretted any of my time at The Aggie. Every moment has been so incredibly loaded with purpose.

I guess what I’m trying to say is squeeze every last drop of opportunity out of your time here in Davis. Take those chances, apply for those positions, state your opinion loud and clear and trust your gut. Even if you have no idea what you’re doing, you can take comfort in the fact that everything will work itself out. Trust me. I’ve been there.
I’m not one to get overly sappy and, as you know, I dread saying goodbye. The good news is, I don’t have to. Graduation isn’t the end — it’s really the beginning. So instead of saying goodbye, I’ll say hello. Hello, degree. Hello, people who made this possible. Hello, next opinion editor. Hello, friends I made along the way. Hello, bright future. Hello, everyone who loves me. Hello, Davis. And hello, reader. I look forward to getting to spend my time, wisely, with you.

Written By: Owen Ruderman

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

A farewell to my four years at The Aggie

By SOPHIE DEWEES

At this point in my career as a California Aggie journalist, I’ve told my Aggie origin story so many times. I could detail the sweaty bike ride to Lower Freeborn, my panic when I couldn’t find the office, eventually finding it and being a good 25 minutes early and the wonderful greeting that the then managing editor gave me, instantly making me feel at home. And while I could repeat this story in depth one last time, I would instead like to focus on the moments I’ve come to cherish since becoming part of this organization; the shared laughs and pure silliness as well as the more difficult conversations that we’ve had.

I’ve had the privilege of sitting on the Editorial Board of The Aggie for three years in different capacities, and it’s hard to express how much that time has meant to me. Each year has brought in a new group of passionate, intelligent and kind individuals who have not only been incredible co-workers but have also become some of my closest friends. This year, we’ve written editorials on a wide spectrum of topics, some as lighthearted as describing our favorite songs to listen to in the spring and others addressing heartbreaking events in our city. 

One meeting that stands out to me from this past year is when we discussed how to address the recent stabbings in Davis. When local tragedy strikes, it can be easy to feel like there is little you can personally do. We were in the unique position to have a platform to share our opinions with our community members, and that, in a way, was reassuring. I think it speaks to our ability as journalists that we continued to write and hold calm discussions about difficult topics during that Ed Board meeting, even under challenging circumstances. 

And in addition to our editorials, many members of Ed Board put in extra hours to make sure we were quickly providing updates that were well-written and informative. I’ve never been more proud to lead The Aggie than during those few weeks when I observed our staffers continuing to serve the community during a nearly unprecedented time of fear and uncertainty. 

We have a little tradition at The Aggie that we refer to as “wall quotes” — we collect them throughout the year whenever a staffer says something funny or something that would sound silly taken out of context and cover our walls with them at the end of spring quarter. My love for the people I’ve worked with on Ed Board can be best contextualized with a quote from our current features editor: “If I didn’t actually like you guys, these sessions would be unbearable.” 

Though we often got hung up on one paragraph (or even one sentence) for a perhaps unreasonable amount of time, I never failed to enjoy lengthier editing sessions (who wouldn’t want an excuse to continue hanging out with their friends?) 

The friendships that I’ve developed and the friendly, open-minded community at The Aggie have given me so much. In this welcoming setting, I’ve become more knowledgeable about my local community and have learned how to better express myself in both my written work and in conversations with my peers. Additionally, as the title of this column suggests, I’ve become more confident in myself. Stevie Nicks had it right; time truly does make you bolder, as does the support and encouragement of those in your community. I’ve been able to grow and learn how to be bold through my work and those I’ve worked with at The Aggie.

In addition to Ed Board, my time at The Aggie has been defined by my work as a writer and as a member of managing staff. I’ve written articles about a disability rights campaign, interviewed our chancellor and the UC president and edited more features and campus news articles than I can count. I’ve had late-night conversations while heaving hefty stacks of papers during distribution and chatted with interested community members while tabling on the Quad. 

I do feel, however, that my time on Ed Board will be what I remember most fondly. Working with and gently arguing with my peers and then later becoming their manager has given me invaluable skills. It might seem difficult to navigate managing your friends, while also collaborating with them on written pieces (and outside of newspaper duties, losing to them at pickleball), but somehow, it always seemed to work. To all of the brilliant student journalists I’ve sat with on Ed Board, thank you. 

Since you are reading this (and you made it this far), I’m guessing you are most likely my parents, my friends or a random Davis student or community member who happened to glance through the senior column spread on their way to the humor section. (Or perhaps you’re a diehard Aggie reader. If so, you’re the best, thank you!) 

If you are the former, thank you for supporting me over the years. Thank you to my parents for teaching me how to navigate tough situations and approach new challenges with compassion and for always encouraging me to explore my passions. To my friends, thank you  for helping me come into myself as an adult and giving me some of the best memories I could have asked for in college. 

And if you are a stranger, simply reading this out of interest, thank you for supporting The Aggie. Whether you read our paper every week or just grab a copy every once in a while, you are why we, as student journalists, do what we do. I have worked over my four years at The Aggie to serve you, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have done so.

Written by: Sophie Dewees

Sophie Dewees is The California Aggie’s current editor-in-chief. She joined The Aggie in January 2020 as a features staff writer and took on the role of assistant features editor in the spring of that same year. The following two years, she sat on the Editorial Board, first as the features editor and then the campus news editor. She became editor-in-chief in June 2022. She is graduating with highest honors with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a double minor in Spanish and history.

Embracing each moment as it is and trusting the path ahead

Dear Davis, 

Thank you for allowing me to find the flaws and be okay with them. Thank you for giving me room to learn, forgive and trust. Thank you for showing me that no matter where you are or who you are surrounded by, you have yourself to lean on. Coming into  UC Davis, I was uncertain about the path I’d take and overwhelmed with the course ahead of me. Now, graduating, I still feel uncertain but at peace with the ambiguity.  

I’ve learned that it’s all about the moments in between. Sometimes, it’s important to just remember how lovely it was to be able to bike to class (speaking from the perspective of someone who’s had a bad concussion), get a vanilla latte from the campus Peet’s or chat with someone at an Aggie meeting ;).  

Being an Aggie has shown me that every day is an opportunity to feel joy. As a  college student, or a student in general, it feels almost unavoidable to experience stress. During the times when schoolwork felt never-ending, the winter quarter blues kicked in or things just felt heavy, I was faced with the decision that I think represents one we all make on a daily basis. “Will I wait for tomorrow to start working toward my  goals or get up today and make the smallest step forward?” 

Remembering the privilege of receiving an education, the privilege of being able to move my body and the privilege of being able to work toward future goals has always helped me persist. Even during the most difficult moments, when my wall was plastered in chemistry sticky notes, or I struggled to analyze middle English or I felt flooded by anxiety, I tried to remember that the difficult moments make the beautiful moments hold such great meaning. 

I’ve learned that perfection will never exist. No matter how hard I try to check all the boxes of whatever ideal image I hold of myself in whatever roles I take on, there will always be things to work on. I’ve learned that trying my best, in all domains, is all I can do to feel content. I strive to improve, learn and grow, and being a Davis student has taught me to give myself credit for what I have achieved and not overanalyze what I  haven’t.  

Being a UC Davis student has not only offered me the chance to self-reflect and do internal work but also to branch out and make new connections. Specifically, being a part of The California Aggie has provided me with the opportunity to meet so many interesting individuals who share a similar passion of spreading awareness to the Davis community and building a sense of togetherness. Through Thursday tabling, quarterly distribution around campus and countless “Thursday Thoughts,” I have been able to connect with some of the most kind, hard-working individuals I’ve met at UC Davis. And through helping lead a team of copyreaders, I have learned valuable leadership skills that I know will help me in the future.

I want to give a special thank you to Anne for fixing Oxford commas and em dashes with me! Also, I would like to thank the wonderful copy editors on the copy desk! We couldn’t do it without you! Finally, I want to thank the amazing Editor-in-Chief  Sophie and Managing Editor Katie for keeping The California Aggie afloat and fostering such a strong sense of community!  

Farewell Davis! 🙂 I feel grateful to have learned here! 

Sincerely, 

Sabine

Blurb:

Sabine Lloyd is a copy chief for The California Aggie. She joined The Aggie in 2020 as a copy reader. She became the associate copy chief in 2021 and finally became a copy chief in 2021. She is graduating with highest honors with a bachelor’s degree in English and a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

To every ending, there is always a new beginning

By MARLON ROLON

It was a cold January night in Reno, Nevada — my family and I were eating dinner inside Panda Express after a long three-hour drive to the Silver State. At that moment, I was feeling unsettled, as I felt that my life had no direction. After all, I was working a dead-end job in Berkeley after putting my education on hold; after two years in community college, I elected to take a year off to make some sort of income to help pay the bills (as they say, money doesn’t grow on trees). A year turned into three years and by this point, I felt stuck, I had to pay rent and it’s not like I could just quit my job. Life doesn’t work that way, or does it? 

Anyway, as I was sitting on the slightly uncomfortable red chair inside Panda Express, I came across those traditional fortune cookies that come with your meal. I for one don’t like the taste of them but my curiosity to find out what sort of message awaited me led me to break the stale cookie in half — or perhaps I was just desperate for a glimmer of hope. 

Suddenly, I felt paralyzed by the resonating message that read “Avoid unchallenging occupations — they waste your talents.” Was this simple message conveyed by the universe during a time when I desperately needed some guidance? I took the message to heart, and from this point on, I learned to understand the unspoken language of the universe which completely changed the trajectory of my life. 

Three months later, the pandemic hit and put the world on pause. Classes became remote and as bad as it sounds, it couldn’t have happened at a better time. This meant that I could continue working while taking online classes that I needed to transfer. I took this as another sign from the universe, it was now or never. I registered at Contra Costa City College in the summer of 2020 and completed the required courses that I needed by the end of the fall semester (I had no idea that I had two semesters left of CC). Finally, the dominos were starting to fall into place and for the first time in a long time, I felt a jubilant relief. 

A few months went by and I finally heard back from the colleges that I applied to. Ultimately, UC Davis wasn’t a difficult choice to make. The proximity provided comfort, the rural town fit perfectly with my personality and best of all, I could pursue sports journalism through The Aggie. As soon as I arrived in Davis, I received an email for an interview from one of the nicest people I’ve ever met (this still rings true today), Margo Rosenbaum, who at the time was the managing editor. A few days later I was hired as a staff writer on the sports desk and was quickly introduced to the sports editor — the most knowledgeable sports enthusiast I’ve ever come across, Omar Novarro. 

I had no trouble settling in due to my previous journalism experience — I was a sports photographer, photo editor and writer at Chabot College. That experience definitely gave me the confidence to excel as a student journalist. However, The Aggie would challenge me in ways that I never imagined. Naturally, I’m a shy, quiet person and interviewing coaches and student-athletes in Division 1 programs was an entirely new experience, but I loved it. Being under the bright lights of UC Davis Health Stadium during the cold nights in the fall made me feel at home, where I belonged.

Through The Aggie, I rediscovered my love for storytelling after it was dormant for so many years. Covering sports and creating narratives about games and players fulfilled me and filled a void that I so deeply desired. As the year went on, my passion grew by each game and each article and before I knew it, my first academic year in Davis (and my third year as a transfer student) was coming to an end. Before the year closed though, I transitioned into the assistant editor role, which was short-lived. 

In my senior year, I took on the role and responsibilities of the sports editor. I embraced the new challenges that came attached to that role, and if I’m being honest it was overwhelming at first. But I kept in mind the subliminal message inside that fortune cookie that led me to Davis — I had to face a new challenge to test my talents. Then again, Omar left some big shoes to fill, and I questioned whether I could fit into them. 

The best advice Omar gave me was “Just trust yourself.” It took some time for me to develop that inner trust, but when I did, I realized that I didn’t have to be like my previous editor, I could be myself. As time went on, I adapted to my responsibilities and I couldn’t be happier to work in this position. Working with so many talented writers during Editorial Board meetings, reading and editing the amazing content produced by The Aggie’s writers at the sports desk and all the incredible stories from my peers on the editorial staff helped me become a better writer. 

My two years at The Aggie have been amazing and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything in the world. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities this job has provided, from covering collegiate sports to professional sports and from interviewing talented college athletes to some of my favorite professional soccer players. These experiences wouldn’t have been possible without The Aggie, but that’s not even the best part. Meeting new people and establishing friendships is what I’ll take away as the best experience. It is true what they say about Davis, the nicest people you’ll ever meet go here. 

Looking back at my time here, I realize how much I’m going to miss this town. From the lingering smell of cows that I’ve grown used to, to the warm weather, beautiful campus, the small cozy office located on 116 A Street, the long studying sessions that I spent at Shields Library during my first year, the many nights I spent inside The University Union Credit Center and UC Davis Health Stadium, to the many afternoons I spent at La Rue Field. If I had a choice to do it all over again, I wouldn’t think twice about it, I’d choose UC Davis in a heartbeat. They say home is where the heart is and this place holds a special place in my heart. 

I dislike goodbyes because goodbye means we won’t ever see each other again and that’s not true so with that being said, I’ll stick to see you later. Omar, thank you for everything you ever did for me during my first year in Davis. Without your guidance, I would have never been able to manage through interviews or even write articles. You instilled the confidence in me to trust myself and to trust the process. Whenever I had a question or needed help you were always kind enough to point me in the right direction, even ‘to this day you remain a great friend. From poking fun at each other about our favorite teams’ results to just talking about sports, you’ve been someone I can always count on. 

Thank you to everyone on the Editorial Board, aka the grammar patrol. Sophie, Katie, Sonora, Clara (Fischer), Owen, Levi, Chris, and Brandon, I’ve enjoyed working with all of you so much. Each of you is an extremely talented writer but an even better person and friend. Our time together was short-lived but I truly appreciate all the time we spent together in Ed Board meetings that came with all the laughs during our editing sessions. I especially love how united we were as a collective and how much we supported one another. 

Lastly, to my lifelong best friend Martiza from back home, thank you for playing an instrumental role in my life. You’ve inspired me to reach for the stars and imprinted my mind with the belief that dreams don’t just happen while you’re asleep, they happen while you’re awake if you act on them. I’ll never forget the first time I came home from Davis after failing my first exam, I felt like it was the end of the world and you were the first one there for support. Before every exam, you would text me “Good luck, you’ll do great,” and those times when I was overwhelmed you would push me to stay up all night to write my articles and essays and study. These little things meant the world to me. Thank you, because I couldn’t have done this without you. 

 While it makes me sad to know that I’m nearing the end of my journey here at UC Davis, I also feel accomplished because I poured my heart and soul into every article. I can honestly look back and say I left it all on the field, I have no regrets during my time here. It’s been quite the journey to get to this point, but even when times looked bleak, I worked hard to climb over the hurdles that life presented along the way. After two short years, I’ll walk away knowing how to understand the unspoken language of the universe which has guided me throughout my time here: life works in mysterious ways sometimes. In my case, who would’ve known that a simple innocent cookie would change my life forever? Just because I’m done writing this article doesn’t mean I’m done writing my story. Just flip the page and read my next chapter, wherever that may be. 

Written by: Marlon Rolon

Marlon Rolon is The California Aggie’s current sports editor. He joined The Aggie in September 2021 as a sports staff writer and took on the role of assistant sports editor in the spring 2022, serving in that role until becoming sports editor in June of that same year. He is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a minor in Chicana/Chicano Studies.

 I do, Vampire Weekend. I do

By ANNE THISELTON-DYER

Here’s a secret they won’t tell you: When you are hired as a copy editor at The Aggie, they blindfold you, lead you into the darkened office basement and force you to swear a blood oath agreeing to join the anti-Oxford comma movement. At that moment, you must abandon whatever high-minded ideals you’ve held about clarifying the meaning of serialized lists by separating the last two items. You must leave what you thought you knew behind in the name of consistency, journalistic integrity and AP Style, plunging into the deep, dark and comma-less unknown. Be warned – after they took me, nothing was the same.

As just exhibited, I have struggled to find profound reflective merit in my college experience, instead resorting to humor. For one, I’m not even a senior; I’m just graduating early. Also, my job on The Aggie primarily consisted of copy editing, which I loved enough to do for three years, but for some crazy reason, I am struggling to romanticize. What could possibly be nostalgic about spending three years converting your brain into a portable writing style guide? you may ask. Also, Anne, why were you so worked up about the Oxford comma a minute ago? (Sit tight, we’ll get to that.) Really, though, I think the main reason I am struggling is because it is much, much easier to joke than to say goodbye.

Through the crazy, terrifying and world-altering events that have happened since I received my UC Davis acceptance letter, The Aggie has been my home base. I was immediately drawn toward working on a newspaper in college. As a die-hard member of my high school publication, student journalism was familiar to me in a time when both my life and the world were wrought with radical change; I slowly settled into the routine of editing The Aggie while attending meetings on Zoom from my childhood bedroom. 

Later that year, when Sabine and I were promoted to copy chiefs, I entered what would grow into an amazing partnership. We had the privilege of leading an even more amazing copy desk. To our copy readers, thank you for your constant dedication and expertise. And Sabine, if you’re reading this, thank you for always having my back. I’m going to miss our super awkward interviews and distribution antics.

From “Thursday Thoughts” to tabling to Woodstocks Trivia, along with other things that don’t start with a T, The Aggie has come to define my time at UC Davis, and I am so incredibly grateful to have been a part of it. It grounded me through a college experience that I can only compare to a joyride in a washing machine set to maximum spin. I apologized a lot. I dropped school for a quarter. I dyed my hair to mark the passage of time. I failed some classes. I made friends and lost them. I wrote a poem that a girl in my workshop described as “baller.” But through it all, I could depend on The Aggie.

So really, I could lecture on the importance of accuracy in journalism, or of upholding correct names and pronouns and fact-checking. I could reminisce about desk meetings, parties and the friends I made. But all I can think about is the Oxford comma. In typical 18-year-old nerd fashion, I was so mad during training when current copy chiefs Kaitlyn and Alex told us that The Aggie didn’t use it. I planned to stay upset, to rise to the top just to bring this nonsense to an end. I would become Editor-in-Chief for this reason and this reason only! But not much went according to plan. There was so much to learn, and like all good things, it was over before I knew it. 

And now that I’m (nearly) released from my contract, I’ll say it: thank you to my spectacular, talented, and hardworking friends at The Aggie. The Oxford Comma lives!!!

Anne Thiselton-Dyer is one of The California Aggie’s current Copy Chiefs. She joined The Aggie in October 2020 as a copy reader. The following year in June 2021, she took on the role of Copy Chief, where she has remained ever since. She is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in economics.

Science writing is the future

By LILLY ACKERMAN

Why did I wait until I was a senior to start writing for The Aggie?

I ask myself that a lot lately, even though I already know the answer. Long story short, it came down to the pandemic, anxiety and a lack of confidence in myself. I try not to beat myself up over it since it’s not like I can turn back time. 

I keep asking myself, though, because I can’t believe how much my experience as a staff writer has done for me since just last October, and I wish I could have had more time. 

I always wanted to put myself out there more on campus, especially post-COVID after spending a year and a half behind a Zoom camera. I also knew that I liked to write. When I finally found it within myself to take the plunge and apply for The Aggie, writing for the science desk was a no-brainer, as it aligned well with my evolution, ecology and biodiversity major and my general passions. 

I was overjoyed to hear that I was hired and had earned a spot on the science desk. I could combine my enjoyment of writing with scientific topics I am interested in while also earning internship units for the professional writing minor I’d been working toward. I felt like things were falling into place. 

There was just one problem: suddenly I was a journalist! I had zero experience with journalism before coming to The Aggie, so I had to find my footing right away. I learned a lot in a very short time as I produced my first few articles; namely, how to navigate the article process from start to finish but also how to overcome the anxiety that followed me to the job. Before I knew it, I had a routine that would get me through the rest of fall pretty seamlessly and carry over into my winter and spring quarters. 

In these last eight months, I have grown so much both personally and professionally. I have realized how rewarding it is to be able to spread the word about research, clinical trials and other breakthroughs that are happening every day at UC Davis. In this role, I have learned about so many scientific fields that I never would have heard of before this job. 

More importantly, I have discovered the significance of science communication — specifically, bridging the gap between researchers and the public. After all, in order to make any impact on a community-wide level, science needs to be communicated in a way that can be understood by everyone, or else it can be cast aside and ignored. In my work, I’ve realized I want to make sure that science can’t be ignored.

On a personal level, I have also transformed completely as a person since the fall. I’ve overcome the social anxiety of holding interviews and talking to professors, doctors and other professionals. I’ve learned about a huge variety of research going on in scientific fields that I didn’t even know existed before. Most importantly, I have become a more confident writer and person, which I will carry with me into the future. 

I don’t exactly know what the future holds for me, but I am content with that fact. I know that I am leaving UC Davis as a self-assured, confident woman, in large part thanks to putting myself out there at The Aggie. I don’t think my seventeen-year-old self would have ever expected the college experience I ended up having, but I think she’d be proud of what I was able to overcome and accomplish. All I know for sure is that I want to continue writing about science, in whatever way that may be, because sharing science with the public in an understandable way has proven to be rewarding for me and critical for all of our futures. 

Written by: Lilly Ackerman

Lilly Ackerman is a staff writer on the science and technology desk at The California Aggie. She joined in October of 2022 and has enjoyed contributing science articles each week throughout her senior year. She is graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Science in evolution, ecology and biodiversity and a minor in professional writing.

On reconciling a time gone too fast and living by the words of a wise turtle

By BRANDON NGUYEN 

On my car rides home from high school, my dad often told me that time is valuable, to which I would respond with an indifferent “Okay,” thinking it was just another one of his urges to spontaneously provide me with his words of wisdom to fill the silence in traffic. 

I had an arbitrary sense of time, being flooded with the usual assignment deadlines, application due dates, daily alarm rings to wake me up for school. And the list goes on. Surges of anxiety would plague my mind thinking about the uncertain future as well as feelings of regret when thinking about atoning my past. Naturally, two questions often came to my mind, and they were always “What should I do?” or “What could I have done differently?” 

Now an undergraduate senior suddenly preparing to graduate in a few weeks, that question has surfaced yet again. Upon reflection, my time here at UC Davis has taught me more about time than I could have imagined. For one, the unforeseen pandemic abruptly ended my freshman year in the dorms, suddenly forcing me to pack up and socially detach from the new friends I had just made. Then, the world seemed like it had to race against the clock. Time, for me, felt like an uncertain state of stasis, stagnant yet unforgivably still moving. Classes quickly adapted to Zoom, and I, like billions of others, was stuck at home. 

It was at this time I started a scrappy online blog on my own website, documenting my days as they passed by. I didn’t think too much of my writing, imperfect at best and a means for my introverted self to decompress after my dense STEM classes each day. 

Then, in January during my sophomore year, I decided to apply for a volunteer position for the science and technology desk at The Aggie, hoping that my writing could be more impactful by having an audience of readers. I had no background experience in journalism, but little did I know that I would learn and grow alongside the best group of mentors, friends and fellow writers that I could ever ask for over the next two-and-a-half years. 

And I know that a pre-med biochemistry and molecular biology student working in journalism at a student-run newspaper may seem like an anomaly or unusual pairing (I know this because my friends have commented on how different journalism is from medicine), but trust me when I say that I would not have done it differently. 

I remember my initial experiences at The Aggie being virtual, seeing unfamiliar faces on Zoom and worrying that I would not be able to fit in. But shoutout to Maddie, the science and tech editor when I first joined the desk, for being so welcoming and responsive to all of us writers with any troubling questions we might have had. I remember having difficulty with setting up one of my interviews, and you walked me through my doubts and questions no matter how small or nonsensical I thought they were. You reassured me that things would turn out fine, and they did. But the confidence and encouragement that I received from you is something I could not thank you enough for.

From then, the skills I have honed as a journalist, networking with and interviewing researchers and healthcare workers, discussing difficult scientific topics, meeting weekly hard deadlines and condensing complex information into a comprehensible page-and-a-half article for readers, are irreplaceable. While I never thought I would step foot into journalism, the field has allowed me to still pursue my passions in science, responsibly reporting on new technology, new findings from research and clinical trials or new transformative stories of patients, all of which were entrusted to me in my writing. 

But aside from the cool skills I can now take with me for a lifetime, this school year has been especially special, being able to meet and be a part of the “Big Dawgs” of The Aggie. To my fellow Editorial Board members, Sophie, Katie, Sonora, Chris, Levi, Clara, Owen and Marlon, thank you for making Ed Board meetings something for me to always look forward to, a place for me to learn and laugh. While I may have been the quiet one, I really do appreciate all of you for helping me stay in the present and to step back for a little bit from whatever was going on in my life. 

Time spent in journalism with all of you taught me to keep up with the present and to live in the moment. While it has flown by fast, I’ve learned that the present is how we make memories of a past that will live on for eternity and is the base from which a future may unfold. Without it, there would be no past or future. That is why the present is a present, as a wise turtle once said, before disappearing behind a random peach blossom tree. So to celebrate the gift of the present, I say cheers to The Aggie — to all the wonderful people I have had the privilege to meet and to learn from. And of course, cheers to a time valuably spent. 

Written by: Brandon Nguyen 

Brandon Nguyen is The California Aggie’s current science and technology editor. He joined The Aggie in winter 2021 as a science and technology staff writer. In winter of 2022, he took on the role of assistant science and technology editor, serving in that role until becoming the science and technology editor in June 2022. He is graduating with highest honors with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology.