Senior Send-Off: Photography editor learns life skills
When you think about it, four years really isn’t a lot of time. In that short period spent at Rider, I’ve been through more ups and downs than I can count.
Right now, my future is uncertain. I don’t have a job lined up, apart from my part-time summer job back home. I plan to look for jobs over the summer and hope to have one by the time fall rolls around. If I don’t have one within the year, then I’ll probably try to get into graduate school.
Even though I don’t have concrete plans after graduation, I’m happy with my time here at Rider. I’ve learned some valuable lessons and been given many opportunities, both in and out of the classroom.
Recently, I have become an intern for Ace Enders’ band I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business. Since I’m a journalism major with a multimedia minor, I’ve learned how to use many of the Adobe design programs, such as Photoshop. I’ve also learned my way around a camera, thanks to my time spent as the photography editor of The Rider News. I was able to use the skills I learned at Rider to take photos of the band in the studio, take the photo for the cover art for their new CD and create a limited edition photo book that will be sold with the new album.
I’ve made some amazing contacts that could hopefully lead to something more as time goes on. Without the skills I learned in my classes and at the newspaper, I would not have been able to pursue this opportunity.
I have also made some of my best friends during my time here and I’m thankful for that. During freshman orientation, I met my roommate. We bonded over music and immediately requested to live together. I wasn’t thinking; I was just happy I wasn’t going to be stuck with some creepy psycho who was going to steal my stuff. I didn’t think that I would end up meeting and living with my best friend.
Working at The Rider News has also been a great experience for me. I’ve made friends from all over, including one who just happens to live one town over from my hometown. We really have become like a little family. We’ve shared lots of laughs and gotten into many heated debates about our baseball teams of choice. I couldn’t imagine spending my Thursday nights anywhere else but in the basement of Ridge House and I’m going to miss everyone very much once I graduate.
When everything is said and done, I’ve enjoyed my time here at Rider. I’ve learned a lot both about myself and my area of study. I’m not sure what my future will bring, but I guess that’s what makes life interesting, right?
– Helen Mannion
Outgoing Photography Editor
