A heartfelt goodbye letter from your faithful Arts Editor
By Angela Espinoza, Arts Editor
I didn’t cry at my high school graduation. I had a lot of good friends, and it was certainly emotional—we had just gone through an open-door prison system for five years, who wouldn’t be emotional? But I didn’t cry because I honestly didn’t care. I was just happy to be out and doing literally anything else. But right now, four years later, I am crying, and I’m feeling everything I think I was supposed to feel when I graduated.
This is the last article I’m writing as the Arts Editor for the Other Press, a position I’ve been very proud to have for the past two years. I’ve also written about things like MGMT and Miley Cyrus this week, because this has been the kind of amazing job that lets me write about those sorts of things. You’ll also see some great reviews written by Douglas students Steven Cayer, Cazzy Lewchuk, and Danielle Harvey, all of whom have made this last editing job a welcome breeze.
I’ve been with the paper since my first day as a student here in 2009, back when one Liam Britten was Editor-in-chief, and whose persistent energy helped me through what I like to call my “I have no idea what I’m doing” phase, something I think all first-time volunteers for the paper go through.
Since then, I’ve seen all the friends I’ve made here grow up beside me: Arts Editor before me (and whether he likes it or not, permanent big brother) Cody Klyne became a big shot Editor-in-chief in 2011, and currently works as our fantastic layout manager. Previous Assistant Editor and sunshine of my life Sharon Miki became a big shot Editor-in-chief in 2012, bringing her bright beautiful smile everywhere she went. Now Jacey Gibb (my other whether-he-likes-it-or-not permanent big brother) is a big shot Editor-in-chief, and already he’s taken to things like a natural. Same thing goes for our brand new and incredible Assistant Editor Natalie Serafini, who was also previously Opinions Editor, and has become one of my best friends over this past year, partially because of our feminist podcast and blog Women on Women, and partially because I love her.
Really, everyone I’ve become close with in my time at the Other Press has become like a best friend. I love them all like family—hell, they are my family. I feel awful not getting to name everyone and describe why specifically they’re awesome enough to be my nearest and dearest friends in this piece, but if I did, it might actually take up the entire section (… okay, Sports Editor Eric Wilkins, you’re special too).
I think what’s hardest about writing this sort of “Arts Editor goodbye letter” is that I know I’m ready to take on something new that isn’t the paper—and I hate saying that. Everything I was supposed to experience in high school—the Perks of Being a Wallflower, friends-until-the-end, we go on weekly adventures experience—I’ve had with the friends I’ve made at the Other Press. And like graduation, I know I’m going to be seeing them all again soon (actually, probably in a couple hours), but just knowing this specific experience with them is over really does break my heart.
So here we are, the final paragraph. Maybe because I’m insane, I’ve been listening to Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots while writing this… which was probably the worst bloody thing I could have put on, but fuck it, it’s my last article. I’m really going to miss this job, but I’m certainly not going to stop writing for the paper. I’m passing on this glowing torch of creativity to one Cheryl Minns, your brand new Arts Editor, and the Heisenberg to my Gus Fring (in a good way). I know she’ll do a wonderful job as Arts Editor, and I’m excited to see where she’ll take the section. But for this last sentence, I’m Angela Espinoza, your Batman-loving, Breaking Bad-obsessed, damn fine cup of Arts Editor, and now I’m going to cry into my cat Nibbler’s fur.
