Copy editor Eric Ramirez and staff writer Allen Duncan at work in District’s new office at Dyson Lab.

By Kenneth Rosen

Editor-in-Chief

Seven weeks ago boxes filled our newsroom, new staff members were hired. I’m not very creative, so from the beginning I took bold chances. Though some scrutiny came with my abrupt and sudden changes, my adviser supported me and we headed full-force into the start of spring quarter.

Since then I’ve learned a lot. The three years I’ve been on staff have culminated into an invaluable experience and below is just a small list of what I’ve learned thus far. (Nod to ex-EIC Travis Walters for this column idea.)

Set the bar high, even if you’re hanging only by a thread. There’s no reason to strive for anything less than greatness. There’s some saying that goes if you shoot for the stars and miss … but I’m not going to quote that.

Just our computer bank, only a small portion of our new office.

Everyone has a dream, help them achieve it. I know many of my staff members have places they’d like to be in five years after they graduate, niche positions they hope to one day fill. Everyone has a dream, and once you find it as the leader, gear their learning experience to help them build their portfolio and hone their skills in a given trade or craft.

In the midst of uncertainty, remain objective and focused. Last week we lost several staff members while in the middle of a move to our new office space. It was a turbulent time and the staff/District faced a lot of uncertainty in a short period of time, but I knew we couldn’t let the site falter. Knowing where I was going allowed me to deal with the strenuous situation while putting faith in my team to carry on without me micromanaging for a few days.

Have a vision, not a plan. I’m not one for planning. In fact, I hate it. Knowing what I want out of my positon as EIC and what I want my team and publication to take away from our year together has helped immensely. By knowing which direction to head, it’s allowed me to veer off track to explore new areas and ideas that I would have missed. A moment offers a thousands things that expectations wouldn’t.

Let distractions become inspiration. Getting caught up in work is the downfall of any good organization. Many great companies today have ways for their employees to express themselves and let off steam, even at the office: Facebook’s office has an actual, chalk “Wall” where employees and guests can write “What’s on your mind?”

Stay vigilant. Stay Thirsty. Trust your instincts.