Puzzle pieces put life together

by Hylann Camacho, online editor

 

People are like puzzle pieces.

Life throws certain people your way so that you can learn something from each one by putting all of them together.

So when you have all the puzzle pieces, you eventually get to see a bigger picture. The bigger picture is yourself.

I believe that with every person we meet, whether you get along with him or her or not, you learn something from them after being around them for a period of time. I also believe that each one has a different influence on you, consciously or sub- consciously. These people enhance your personality over time.

First of all, there’s Hilary, my roommate and associate editor of the staff. During the past year, I’ve had a lot of fun with her. I learned from her how to really laugh at myself, especially on Paper Nights at about 3 a.m.  She also taught me how to be stronger in bad situations. She also taught me how to laugh at myself while being stronger in a bad situation.

My other roommate, Laura (news editor), taught me not only the meaning of what “stressed out” is, but, more importantly, complete understanding and caring. It’s nice to have someone to talk to at 4 a.m. in the garage on the ping pong table. I’m going to miss Laura yelling at the top of her lungs during class, or any other time for that matter.

As for Brittany, the opinion editor of the staff, I must commend her. I have to admit that I didn’t like her at first. But after some time, we got along fine. She is very opinionated, but reasonable and very fun to be around. She also showed me how to do great cut-outs in Photoshop too. She also has a good head on her shoulders, and I admire that.

However, one of the major influences who kind of got me to join the editorial staff was Alex Everett. We started out by doing the homework from news writing class together. Then I stayed after school a couple of times for the Paper Nights, and I have been there ever since. Thanks for showing me something great, as well as a good friendship.

The entire staff has their own personal quirks and pet peeves. I got to know most of them during the past year. From each one I learned a different point of view, though. I have never met a group of people quite like them, and over the past year many of them became like family. We ate lunch together, did home work together. Even though all of us have different opinions and views on things, most of us still joked and laughed about the same things.

Also, for everyone who will be returning to the Plainsman Press next year, I am glad I got a chance to meet all of them. They are good writers, and the paper should be excellent with them in charge next year.

Everyone who went to TIPA even had an impact. The trip wouldn’t have been the same without everyone there. Just to see everyone compete was exciting. I had never attended anything like that before, and I am glad that I had the opportunity. Now if I go back next year, maybe I won’t be so nervous. I had that opportunity thanks to Charlie Ehrenfeld.

Charlie is the kind of guy who can drive you up the wall from time to time, especially regarding creating headlines. But I hadn’t had a teacher like him before.

What I learned from him is that even if things get so bad, you have to keep going.

He sparked my interest in journalism more than previous instructors had before. The bottom line is that he made me get involved. I hadn’t really bothered to get involved at my previous college because I didn’t really have the desire or need. For some reason, when I came to South Plains College a year ago, a mean-looking teacher let me into his class even when it was already full, because I asked nicely.

The past year was a radical change in my life. I moved away from my hometown, started attending a new college and was thrown into a completely different group of people. I am thankful for every person I met, and what I stood to learn form each one. I think I am better prepared for the world and my career because the experiences I had at South Plains and with the Plainsman Press staff.

I just want to end this by saying thank you to all my puzzle pieces.