Mainsheet Reflection: Jade Francis, editor
by Jade Francis
As a freshly 16-year-old taking five courses in college, I was excited and nervous. Fall 2020 I had Professor Kerry Drohan for English Composition when I believed I wanted to pursue a career in psychology. Nearing the end of the semester, Professor Drohan recommended I take his journalism course in the spring because of my “writing skill,” and I felt tears well up in my eyes.
What he didn’t know was that just two years prior I had an English teacher who constantly criticized my work without compliment. I was consistently given low grades without proper reasoning why. My class was even told that we simply weren’t good writers.
I believed every word this teacher said with a heavy heart. I thought there was no way I could chase my dream as a writer anymore. That is, until Professor Drohan lifted my spirits once again. Because of Professor Drohan, I changed my intended career path to my original aspiration of being an English major.
I began as a reporter in the Spring of 2021. Being a reporter is exhilarating; reporters get to relay important information through the creativity of their own, all while meeting interesting people along the way. Plus, I had Professor Drohan cheering me on all the while. In the Fall of 2021, I became the editor of the Mainsheet. Because of the small journalism class size, I continued as a reporter on top of editing. Alas, Spring 2022 I continued as a full-time editor and now will be passing the torch on to the next editor.
It is a truly amazing job to be the editor of a student paper. I’ve witnessed countless individuals’ writing improve greatly over the semesters. I feel so proud to have been just a small part in helping my peers improve their writing skill.
I can’t thank enough Professors Kerry Drohan and Tim Miller for their compassion and encouragement through my time with the Mainsheet. I have no doubt in my mind that it will continue to thrive as the years go on.
Jade Francis
Photo taken by Alex Lilly
Categories: Featured, Editorials