Farewell words from your editorial staff

Kyle Lunberg: Editor-in-Chief

Wow, does reflecting upon the last year seem like a monumental task. I came to PLNU with a lot of dreams (as many of us have). One of those dreams was to be editor of the cam­pus newspaper. This is one particular dream that came true, but dreams don’t ever tell the whole story.

For all the fun days in the of­fice, the days where we editors would crack jokes over pizza and discuss the varying degrees to which we have no lives, there were days and weeks of profound loneliness for me, days of depression, doubt and confusion.

These feelings are partly part of life, but they’re also the result of the pressures that come with serving this campus with a quality product every week. I may take my job too seriously sometimes, but I want you to know how deeply I’ve pondered the words and deeds of this community over the past year. I have experienced tears, laughter and entirely too many sleepless nights. Most important­ly, we have had some important conversations over the past year, and it has been my pleasure to help facilitate those conversations and bring some important issues to light.

So, if you’ve contributed to, been quoted in or simply read The Point Weekly this past year, I want to thank you and express what a true pleasure it has been to serve you. I pray we continue to hold each other accountable in making sure that all voices on this campus are heard. If we have done just a small part to contribute to this atmosphere of openness, then my job has been worth every second.

Abby Hamblin: News Editor

If there’s anything I’ve learned from coming back to this job and this campus after being on the East Coast for a semester, it’s that people matter and their stories are worth sharing. Living and working in Washington, D.C., I experienced an environment that focuses on issues and institutions rather than the people they involve or represent. PLNU is a place where the administrators and professors genuine­ly care about the students, and the stu­dents here genuinely care about each other. I’ve enjoyed sharing your stories this semester, but we’ve got a long way to go. I do, we all do. To wrestle with our individuality but also with our place in this community and to do it as we navigate our faith (or lack thereof) and our vocation and calling in life is a tough, tough task to face. But it comes down to relationships and sharing our stories with one another. I am inspired and encouraged by the conversation and debate that has taken place on our campus, but I know there’s more to be done. We must continue to share our stories and listen lovingly to our brothers and sisters as we deepen our opinions, but also open our minds. So with all that said, I just want to thank you all for sharing your stories with us, but also encourage you to share even more, especially with each other, so we can come to better understand each other here at PLNU and beyond.

Callie Radke: Features Editor

“Hey Callie, don’t you do some­thing for The Point Weekly?” I hear that question a lot. Usually, it makes me want to giggle (or hide, depend­ing on what scandal is being printed). Like the people who ask that question, I didn’t know exactly what that meant when I agreed to the position. And honestly, I’m not sure why I agreed to do it. I vaguely remember the words “resume” and “good experience” and I think it had something to do with Dean Nelson’s Jedi mind powers.

There were some hard times. It’s hard not to feel discouraged when you get scathing reviews and realize that a lot of people don’t bother reading what you’ve spent hours on. But the funny thing is, in the end I’m so ap­preciative for my stint in Features. Despite the dozens of times I gritted my teeth and growled out something like, “I hate The Point Weekly,” there was an experience here that I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else.

The late Sunday nights that de­volved into giddiness and bad Pho­toBooth pictures, the thrill of seeing someone reading a paper, the prob­lem solving of figuring out what ar­ticles to run – all of it is so unique to The Point Weekly. I’ve gotten to work backstage and see the show from a whole different angle. It’s made me realize how incredible this place re­ally is. Journalism may have gotten into my head, but it’s only gotten all of PLNU (even the bad parts) more deeply into my heart.

Jacob Roth: Sports Editor

Being of sound mind, I, Jacob Roth, execute my last will and tes­tament as Point Weekly Sports Editor and hereby bequeath all or part of the sports page to next year’s Sports Editor, Tavis Robertson.

The past two years at The Point Weekly have provided me with invaluable experience, un­forgettable memories and a host of new friends, all of which have helped me learn and grow as a writer as well as a human being.

Additionally, writing “Jake’s Take” has definitely been one of the most enjoyable aspects of my time here at PLNU. I feel a small burst of pride each time someone comes over on Caf lane and says, “Hey, good job on your column this week.” Hopefully I can keep it going next school year.

I’d love to keep serving you as the Sports Editor, but to be honest, I’m tired. At times it’s an incredibly stressful — albeit remarkably rewarding — job that requires hours of work, and, frankly, I’m ready to move on to other things.

Still, I wouldn’t trade the ex­periences for anything.

Ian Crane: A&E Editor

My time as A&E editor for The Point Weekly has been a journey. Defined by countless Demi Lovato, Beyoncé and Ke$ha jam sessions with @abbyhamblin; notes on notes on notes in my iPhone with story ideas; and the opportunity to spend every Mon­day afternoon with Dean Nelson, it has been fab (a dream?).

Even though I hate to say it, you’re all pretty exciting. I wish I could say that I spent all of my time hating on your #fashioncrimes, but I really only did that once. Most of my time is spent talking, writing and reading about the cool things you’re all doing in the arts and en­tertainment worlds.

You’re in bands that make re­ally inspiring music and you have recitals that feature original com­positions and you have exhibitions that push boundaries enough that I get to talk to cool people about censorship. Some of you are even doing such great things in the real world (it’s a scary place) that I get to interview you for stories on the significant things that PLNU alumni are doing in the art world. That’s why I like this job.

I like this job because you’re all so cool. I like it because it forc­es me to realize that I get to spend my time at PLNU with some really inspiring people. I like it because I get to pretend that I’m cool while relying on the things that you’re all doing. Thanks for that. Thanks for always being ex­citing and providing me with end­less inspiration, entertainment and story ideas.

Hana Eades: Opinion Editor

I’ve learned that three types of peo­ple walk toward trouble and emergen­cies: firemen, police and journalists.

I strive to fall into the journalist category. The trek through PLNU has, in my opinion, prepared me to accomplish this goal.

My years of working with The Point Weekly have been quite adven­turous. I’ve done many things outside of my comfort zone to get stories: I’ve spent days dressed as a homeless hippie in Ocean beach, gone door-to-door to talk to PLNU’s neighbors about parking situations and, as of most recently, I’ve followed the sound of police sirens toward the alleged ac­tive shooter in Liberty Station.

Being a part of The Point Weekly staff and the LJML department in gen­eral, I’ve been dropped into a new fam­ily, so-to-speak (I could not tell you how many hours of my college career have been spent chatting with Rachel in the office of Bond Academic Center).

Dean Nelson, my advisor, pro­fessor, mentor and Sunday school teacher, is a person I’d like to thank for helping me get through the thick and thin moments of life.

Now that I’m going to work for the school (call out for Physical Plant. Whoop whoop!), I am grateful to know that I have the department there for me if I ever need a listening ear.

PLNU, you’ve been great and I look forward to continuing to be a part of your community.

Lara Khodanian: Layout Editor

I began this semester with worries on how I would succeed as an artist and won­dered if any opportunities would ever come my way. The only hope I had was that God would somehow come through and pro­vide the way He always has. That was when it happened. It was a late Sunday night when I had a bitter feeling about being in the Volleyball Club and decided to leave tryouts an hour and a half early. Instead I visited a friend in The Point Weekly office where I met and chatted with the other edi­tors. The Layout Editor soon learned that I was a graphic design major and offered me her job for the following semester. In the following weeks and months, each Sun­day night was spent staring at a computer for 6-12 hours with much stress that was soon relieved with God-sent creativity and patience. It has been nearly five months since that day and I am still thankful for God providing me with this opportunity.

Kendra Pittam: Copy Editor

Some people are born to be athletes. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. In fact, I still haven’t found a sport that I’m remotely good at, which leaves me with a lot of time on my hands. Enough time to do crazy things like read the dic­tionary, whine about signs in the grocery store that say “10 items or less” when they should say “10 items or fewer” (come on, people) and fume at the emerg­ing dialect of text-lingo. Serv­ing as this year’s Copy Editor provided me with a healthy (and financially compensated) outlet for this intellectual aggression, and I will forever be grateful for the experience. I’ve been able to simultaneously work with some of the best students and faculty on campus and pursue my pas­sion for the English language, not to mention look up countless sloth videos on YouTube while waiting on content at 2 a.m. I’ve learned that Apple computers are virtually impossible to figure out for PC users (or maybe just me), pulling all-nighters is OK if it’s the only way to make sure everything is done right and the quickest way to bond with some­one is by singing Celine Dion while dancing ballet throughout the office. I leave this position with fond memories and an ar­ray of new life experiences in my tool belt, and to next year’s brave and capable staff I wish the best of luck.