By Alliyah Bidwell, Senior Reporter
With my time here at Northwestern coming to an end, I have so much to say and so little time to say it.
I have learned so much from my time on the Northwestern News. When I started writing for the paper, the editors had to do so much magic to fix my grammar. I had the potential to be a good writer even with my learning disabilities. I just needed someone to take the time to help me find the way.
Even today, I am shocked by how far my writing has come. I am thankful for all the encouragement because now I have the courage to write my own short-chapter book, and I am going to.
I know that I had times when learning these skills that were taught to me made me want to quit. I definitely wanted to quit when I spent eight hours in the lab trying to figure out how to edit a video.
However, once I learned it, I haven’t been able to stop myself from using it. I love that I have the ability to change a poor-quality video and turn it into a professional video. If I never learned this skill, I couldn’t ever go into film in the field that I want to be in.
I may have wanted to be a princess at one point, and I may not have always dreamed of going into mass communication, but I wouldn’t trade my time here in this department for anything in the college career world. I think that everything happens for a reason. I may not like the reason, and I am not great at change, but I don’t see myself going into any other field.
I struggle with goodbyes, so I won’t say goodbye. I will just leave younger students with some advice.
If you need help on an assignment, don’t be afraid to ask. You may be a college student, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t human, and humans need help once in a while.
With that being said, if you need help, go to the professor in advance. Don’t wait because if you do, they likely won’t help. Once you receive an assignment, try your best to start on it or at least keep it in mind. I struggle with procrastination, and when you keep yourself in check, it can help.
Don’t forget to enjoy your time here because, before you realize it, it will be your senior year, too.
Sometimes, you just have to enjoy the little things.
If you have time to spend with friends, do it, because this is an experience that you should want to remember. I don’t mean you should avoid homework; I mean you should save some time for fun because stressing out over an assignment that is due later on is not doing yourself any favors.
I am so thankful I was able to have one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I am so thankful you got to be a part of it.
Aliyah Bidwell is a senior reporter for the News. She is graduating in May.