Editor-in-Chief bids farewell

Dear readers,

At first, college was not what I had expected it to be. When I arrived on campus in fall 2016, I felt lonely, I had one friend, and I frequently found myself sitting on my own in the library completing homework during breaks.

It was not a pleasant start to the semester, and I do not wish that sort of formidable loneliness on anyone. However, my situation quickly changed for the better when I found a home at The Hudsonian.

After initial hesitation, I decided to join the school newspaper. I felt immediately welcomed by the intrinsically kind and quirky staff at The Hudsonian. I was suddenly in the presence of like-minded students who were funny, wild and incredibly witty.

I quickly learned The Hudsonian is unlike any other club on campus, in that we function as a professional news publication and offer students on-the-job training.

As early as last fall, our previous editor-in-chief believed the work I produced as a newly published staff writer showed potential. She believed I was a contender for editor-in-chief. I must admit, trepidation weighed down my thoughts when thinking about the position, mostly because I didn’t think I was good enough to do it. Self-doubt, paired with worries about a plummeting GPA, made the prospects scary.

Here’s a little piece of advice: Do not allow fear of failure to deter you from a new and unknown opportunity. Understand that failure is sometimes inevitable, but it can also be enriching.

Despite every apprehension plaguing my thoughts, I took the position, and I took it with pride. I believed I could bare the burden, but I was also confident in the staff’s ability to produce an exceptional periodical.

The Hudsonian is home to some of the most dedicated, well-written, compassionate, inquisitive and artistically knowledgeable students I have ever encountered.

A weekly paper would not be possible without the efficient collaboration between our staff writers, photographers and editors, who work hours to produce our publication week-to-week. We’re a team.

Joining The Hud and working as editor-in-chief has truly been the single greatest decision I have made in my undergraduate career thus far. I’ve experienced an exceptional amount of growth and success in these past two years that was totally unforeseen.

So please don’t say you’re “just” going to community college. Look at your time here as an opportunity to forge a future full of success. Involve yourself in activities that challenge your insecurities and put you far outside of your comfort zone. I promise you will come to find the challenge invigorating.

Outside of The Hudsonian, I can say Hudson Valley’s exceptional professors helped me get into the school of my dreams.

This fall, when I start studying at Cornell University, I’ll look back on my first two years of college with tremendous pride — pride in the coursework, yes, but mostly pride in the friendships I formed at Hudson Valley.

You can come to the college for credits, or you can come here and form lifelong memories that will leave you in tears as a result of gut-wrenching laughter. I would not trade the adventures, laughs and hardships I’ve shared with the staff at The Hudsonian for anything.  

To my Hud family, past and present: I will forever hold the utmost admiration for each and every one of you. I look forward to hearing, reading and viewing all the spectacular endeavors you pursue in the future. Being granted the chance to work with all of you has changed me in more ways than you will ever know.

Words cannot describe the gratitude I feel after having been afforded the opportunity to work with all of you. Thank you so much for making this two-year experience unforgettable and truly irreplaceable.

In the constant embrace of editors and friends, I never once felt alone at The Hudsonian.

Julio Eleazar Rodriguez

Editor-in-Chief