A Last Word From Our Staff

Amelia Stefanescu, Editor-in-Chief

“I can’t see a way through,” said the boy. 

“Can you see your next step?”

“Yes.”

“Just take that,” said the horse.

- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse (Charlie Mackesy)

I’m leaving Andrews University with a heavy yet curious heart. These past four years have been full of stress and tears and doubts and sleepless nights, but also laughter and joy and smiles and time spent with truly wonderful people. I wouldn’t trade away any of the moments I’ve experienced throughout college, and I’m forever grateful to my friends, classmates, and professors and will miss them all dearly. While the future seems scary at times and the bend in the road is not always visible, I step forward curiously, carrying the beautiful memories I have made here. So, just know: Ahead are new beginnings, and you just need to be brave enough to take the next step, gently nudged forward by the people, experiences, and moments which have brought you this far.

Corinna Bevier, A&E Editor

This semester I learned the importance of rest. At the beginning of the year, I put a lot of pressure on myself to do everything perfectly, and for a while, it felt like this was achievable. Soon, however, I found myself getting burnt out and exhausted. School is challenging and you can’t do everything. There are only so many hours in a day and days in a week, and trying to do everything without taking time to rest is detrimental. I had to learn that resting is okay. There is a lot of pressure to always be productive, but rest is just as important. This doesn’t make you less worthy of the opportunities you have been given. Take time to rest. 

Madison Vath, Pulse Editor

The beginning of last semester found me unwilling to take up the space I’m meant to. During a meeting with my honors thesis advisor, I was lovingly reprimanded for phrasing my sentences in such a way that made me appear small and insignificant; not owning what I know. Dr. Denslow looked at me and said “Maddi, you know your stuff. Own it.” To every woman on this campus, own what you know. Remember how hard you’ve worked to be where you are and take up the space that is your God-given right to exist in. You are important. Your words are important. Use them in ways that are effective and meaningful. I’m rooting for you. Go take over the world!

Nate Miller, Copy Editor

I’ve learned a lot as the copy editor this past year. I learned AP style by taking quizzes in all my classes and I learned that I sound a lot more impressive if, on my resume, I say I’m chief copy editor instead of just copy editor. I have edited so many sentences, and have probably passed over many mistakes I should’ve corrected (for instance, Amelia very sternly told me not to nix the Oxford commas in her blurb above, and I’m scared of her and do as I’m told), and this is the last sentence I will ever write for the Student Movement, and I probably could’ve done a better job, and I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

Finnegan Blake, Website Editor

I came to Andrews my freshman year laser-focused. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was living in a bubble, sequestered in the math department or in my dorm room. This year, my sophomore year, I like to think I’ve popped it. I took Ceramics—a total waste, credit-wise, as I am a math and computer science major with no art requirement—and it has been some of the most fun I’ve had in a classroom. I’ve explored St. Joseph and South Bend—places I seldom visited last year, for some reason. And, of course, I joined the Student Movement. It’s been OK.

Prof. Harris, Faculty Advisor

It’s OK to not have all the answers. I’ve been working through what it means to live life feeling like you have to have it all together. As an editor, this can be hard to accept because, generally, your job is to shape and often correct content. But in life, it’s draining. This year, as I’ve juggled various roles and responsibilities, I realized there’s freedom in sometimes saying “I don’t know,” or asking for help. It’s helped me serve my students better, connect with colleagues and honor my voice. As this semester closes, I’ve learned I know more than I thought, but I don’t know it all—and that’s just fine with me. 

Andrew Francis, Humans Editor

Nothing is more powerful than pressure. It can be the pressure to perform, the pressure to conform or the pressure to just crumble underneath it all. In higher education's fast-paced and chaotic environment, pressure can sometimes seem insurmountable. However, we have to remember that we can only control what we can control. Everything may seem out of your control—often because a lot of it is. You can’t guarantee you’ll enjoy your major, have reliable friends or that your career after college will be immediately lucrative. But you can guarantee that you are doing all that you can to do your best in all you do. Be proactive in all you do, work as efficiently as possible, find people who will support you and, above all, pray. Don’t let what is out of reach control your life. 

Control what you can control. 

Melissa Moore, News Editor

How do I share everything I’ve learned this year in a single paragraph? So much can happen in a year. Regularly stop and take a breath. Pay attention to what is around you. Savor moments with people because they rush past quickly. You never know when life might suddenly go haywire. You expected to have more game nights and outings, but one day near the end, you look back and realize the game night you had months ago was your last. You didn’t even realize you were making memories. I’ve struggled with this as a fourth-year student who decided to stay longer while most of the people I started my college journey with move on. Yet, there is hope. Be the one to reach out to someone new. Look ahead and think of the wonderful things that could fill that space. Try new things, and learn how to fall because it will happen sometimes. The only real defeat comes if you refuse to try again. Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it, and sometimes you must set your ego aside and tell other people you are not okay. Let people surprise you when it doesn’t scare them away. Finally, abandon all the “should” statements in your life. If you think, “I should drink water,” well … yeah. People need water to live, so maybe keep that one. But most of the time, “should” rules are made up anyway.

Abby Shim, Ideas Editor

Last year, when we wrapped up the Student Movement, we were told to choose one word that summarized our journey so far. I chose the word “ikigai”, which is a Japanese word that means “a reason for being.” Like many students, I didn’t consider Andrews as my first choice. I kind of had my hand forced to go here after I received their full tuition scholarship. I didn’t know what to expect, but to be honest, I wasn’t expecting much. Looking back now, I see how much Andrews gave to me in the form of lifelong friends, life-altering lessons, and life-transforming opportunities. I figured out what I want to do with my life, who I want to do it with, and how I want to do it: I found my “ikigai.” Although it’s cheesy, our saying to be “world changers” is something I’ll always have in the back of my mind. Andrews gave to me in abundance—I hope to use everything I’ve learned here to give back to the world in some meaningful and Christ-centered way. We are to be in this world, not of it, but I hope that we all find our ikigai and the ways to accomplish them.