Journalism is something I always knew was going to be a part of my life.
When I was in elementary school, I dreamed of travelling the world and writing about my adventures and the people I’d meet — not yet knowing there was an actual job for it.
My middle school years were spent buried in paper and ink, furiously scribbling down my ideas for stories and babbling to my mother about the different events around the globe I wanted to cover.
In high school, I made my first attempt at a blog and took free social media and online writing classes to sharpen my skills. The blog was honestly terrible, but it gave me my first taste of journalism.
All of these moments led to me sitting on a bus during my first-year orientation week at St. Thomas University. A bright-eyed, blond man, with a camera strapped around his neck, sat beside me and introduced himself as Aaron Sousa, a first-year journalism student like me who was itching to start writing for The Aquinian. We spent the bus ride pretending to interview one another as a way to get to know each other.
As the bus turned onto campus, I laughed and said, “wouldn’t it be incredible if in our fourth-year, you become editor-in-chief and I get managing editor?”
After three years of being each others’ self-proclaimed “journalists-in-crime,” it is an honour to be welcomed onto The Aquinian managing team with Aaron by my side.
The Aquinian has been a part of my life since first-year and I don’t know if I can put into words exactly how much I have gained from it.
On a surface level, I learned how to be a better writer and to be confident in my abilities. But this past year alone, as arts and cultures editor, it has given me so much more.
I have a second family in the eccentric group of friends and journalists I worked with this year. I have a deeper connection and understanding with my community I never before experienced. I have a support group of fellow editors who understand and help each other over every hurdle.
As the 2022-23 managing editor, I can only hope I can pass these same gifts onto the new team who will step forward next year and bring new voices to our paper.
I thank Hana Delaney and Hannah Rudderham for being incredible role models and mentors this year. It’s because of this dynamic duo of strong women that I have become a better writer, leader and person. They were truly the backbone of The Aquinian this year and I don’t know what I would’ve done without them.
As I write this and I think back on every story, every person and every interview that led up to this letter, I am grateful, yet also afraid, for what’s to come. But I close this letter with a smile, knowing I won’t face this strange adventure alone.
I can’t wait to see what stories await us in the coming year and to share them with you all.
Best regards,
Brooklyn Wilkins
Managing Editor 2022-23
