This week I sat down with Student Movement editor-in-chief candidate, Alannah Tjhatra (junior, biochemistry), to discuss her reasons for running and to get to know her a little better.
Tell me a little bit about your life. Where are you from? Where did you go to school? Any siblings?
I originally emerged from Hunan, a province in southern China—although I spent most of my years growing up in Ontario, Canada. I spent most of my life on the College Park campus in the city of Oshawa, about 45 minutes away from Toronto, where I attended College Park Elementary School and then Kingsway College (for high school. Don't be fooled by the "college" name).
What are some hobbies you have?
I really love creative writing. Perhaps it's more of a fixation than a hobby. I love writing poetry and longer-form stories, and I've recently been diving into the craft of short story writing (I highly recommend ENGL 467, Creative Writing: Short Story). I also love trying new vegan foods and pretending I'm a taste tester. Going to the gym is an enjoyable pastime, as well as reading and watching movies. I'm not sure if it counts as a hobby, but I also really love spending time with friends. The late-night talks always hit the spot.
What is a fun fact about you?
I really enjoy grocery store runs. There's this grocery store in Canada called Sobeys; it's about a three-minute drive from my house and I go there when I'm stressed to peruse the aisles. I'm also really glad they built a Trader Joe's (relatively) near Andrews and I will always be down for a trip there too. Skateboarding to Apple Valley on a sunny day is always fun.
Who or what inspires you?
Hmm, this is a great question. There are so many women I have looked up to throughout the years and it's difficult to choose just one.
In terms of writing, I really respect the authors Daphne Du Maurier and Taylor Jenkins Reid for their ability to hook their readers so wonderfully. I’ve always been really inspired by Toni Morrison as well. Her stories never cease to make you think and her prose is so beautiful it sometimes makes me shiver–yet it is still filled with such clarity and nuance. She brings awareness to important issues and has inspired so many readers through her words, and I am in awe of that.
In terms of people I know, my friends have been a big inspiration and encouragement to me. Each person on “The Student Movement” team has been very inspiring. And a shoutout to Alyssa Henriquez, “The Student Movement’s” editor-in-chief this year. She is an incredibly accomplished woman who has been such a great leader throughout these months, and it's almost daunting to come after her.
If elected, what plans do you have for “The Student Movement” next year? How do you think you'll bring your own unique spin to being Editor?
I hope to get people excited about the news, about reading. Covid has put a bit of a damper on school enthusiasm everywhere, and as we're coming out of that, I hope to get students back into the swing of things. I want to see people excited about Andrews; I want to see them enjoying campus life here despite some of the drawbacks that may be present. Alyssa and her team have done an awesome job of spreading the word about the paper, and I hope to continue that next year. I'd like to do this by publishing quality articles that encompass local Andrews news, global news, thought pieces, and wellness ideas—putting out articles that provide a picture of who we are as a campus.
What encouraged you to run for office?
I have really enjoyed being on the “Student Movement” editing team this year, and I've enjoyed writing for “The Student Movement” since my freshman year. I think there's a lot we can learn from the news and honestly working on this team has enlightened me on a lot of things. It's really cool to read what people have to say and be able to craft something that hopefully adds something good to the Andrews atmosphere.
Why do you think “The Student Movement” is important?
I think it’s a way for students to share their ideas. And the more ideas we share, the more conversations we can have, and the more we can learn from each other. I’ve already learned so much just by reading through the various articles this past year and I’ve gotten to interact with so many really interesting, cool people.
What most excites you about “The Student Movement”?
I want the newspaper to be fun to write for and to read—for example, people really seemed to like the April Fool's issue we put out recently, because it was humorous and absurd. I want to keep that going—to make people laugh, to make people think, to help people discover all kinds of new possibilities and ways of being/living. I’m excited to put out ideas that will hopefully push the boundaries of what this campus can be, and how we can better love each other as Christians.
Anything else you'd like to say? Advice or otherwise?
I was trying to think of some profound or impactful wisdom to relay, but I can’t come up with anything of that sort. I think something I’ve discovered over the years is that sometimes, you just have to go for it. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to do or try or sign up for, don’t think too hard about it. Just do it. That’s sort of what brought me here, running for this position. We’re still so young and dumb and it doesn’t hurt to try new things, most of the time. It’s something I’m trying to live, and it’s definitely a work in progress.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.