How I found myself as a writer through The Cascade

Fall of 2013 found me trying to make sense of the fragmented nature that seemed to cover my university's small campus. Between classes, I did a lot of walking and sitting. This was my routine. In the morning, I would be dropped off, usually in front of the library. I would walk through the building which housed the library, past a coffee shop, and through a pair of doors down to the green. From there, I roamed around campus aimlessly, listening to music and drifting from one building to another, usually winding my way back to the library where I would find a seat and try to focus on readings. 

At this point, I was taking four courses which I thought seemed promising. These were Psychology 101, Anthropology 101, Philosophy 110, and Political Science 120.  No English. I knew I wanted to take English as my major, but a brief meeting with a course adviser led me to the incorrect assumption that I needed to wait until my second semester to take any English courses, since my English 12 grade had not yet been delivered to the university by the Ministry of Education. 

Sometime in between rushing to and from class, I saw it. Strewn about on a coffee table were two or three issues of The Cascade. I grabbed the topmost issue and flipped through it, focusing on the two album reviews in the Arts section of the paper. A short directory search later, I walked into C building and after turning a corner, stood face to face with a locked door labelled The Cascade. Despite the fact that I had no classes in that building, I made a point to walk by the office once or twice a day in the hopes of finding an open door. Almost a week later, I walked into the office and found Reace, boyfriend to Editor in Chief Dessa. He gave me her email, and later that night I asked her how I could go about contributing to the paper. 

That first article was an interview with two members of a local band, Casinos. Shortly after that, I submitted an album review. And another, and another. I spent an increasing amount of time wedged into the worn-in little couch at The Cascade's office, studying and watching editors crank out articles. Sometimes I would ask them how to deal with one or another problem. I tried to add to my skill set, especially in terms of interviewing. I saw the work the people around me put in, and how it manifested itself every week in the publication of a new issue, full of content that varied from the essential (News) to more analytical and even entertaining fields. Eventually, I ventured into sections other than Arts, writing opinion pieces and event coverage for a year as an unpaid contributor. Despite Arts being my proverbial stomping grounds, I wanted to give all of myself to the paper.

As time went on it became clear to me that The Cascade was more than just a campus newspaper. If it hadn’t been for The Cascade, I wouldn’t have made some of the strongest and most important friendships of my life thus far, and I wouldn’t have the appreciation I do for what it means to put something together as a team.

I mainly wrote album reviews and began realizing that writing weekly gave me the opportunity to refine the skills I needed to build my foundation as a writer. I found I was able to express myself and communicate more efficiently. Instead of employing a series of vague statements I focused on finding the right word, the right statement. My writing began to change. It shed its excess baggage, and it began to take less effort on my part to marry accuracy and style in my writing. I was starting to find my voice. First as a contributor, then as a staff writer, writing two articles a week, then as an Arts sectional writer, focusing on commentary and the local arts and music scene. 

After three years I was offered the position of Sectional Editor. Now, on top of writing and editing, I attempt to communicate to contributor and writers the only truth that my career as a writer has shown me is of any real importance: If you keep writing consciously, and focus on efficiency, you'll grow as a writer. Stylistic flourishes and personality are important, yes. But first you need to be able to face down the raging storm of language, (shapeless and untamed) and domesticate it. If you are able to communicate clearly and efficiently, all else will follow. 

And now, at present day, my ability to communicate with efficiency is my most prized possession, and one that I continuously take apart and add to. Efficiency of language is always at my core as a writer and at the core of what I have to offer.