Collegiate Times

HE SAID:

I’m sure this week’s “He Said” will receive mixed reviews.

I hate to say it, but this is the last installment of my series. I enjoyed spending the last year covering various topics with you, and I wanted to take this last article to both thank you and describe my journey.

My journey all started last summer when I received an email outlining the position of the “He Said” writer and explaining the application process.  I had read every article last year since Chelsea Gunter, the previous “She Said” writer, was a good friend of mine; her creative and witty articles were a perfect companion to my Friday morning Au Bon Pain tradition. Being an engineer, I never saw myself as a writer, but — as my packed calendar will show — I have trouble saying “no” to opportunities, which obliged me to at least apply.

The application was simple: write the first article regarding tips on how to be a freshman. I should have known this would be difficult when that first article — something I know a lot about — took me forever to write. But alas, I submitted the article and left it up to the hands of the almighty features editors.

Somehow, I was chosen for this position and the journey began. My new position surely did not change my social hierarchy, considering few people had even heard of the column. I set out to make it a fun way to learn about writing and make people laugh throughout the school year. If nothing else, at least I learned something.

One realization I quickly made was sarcasm is not easily portrayed through text. Many jokes I thought were quite funny due to my sarcastic nature turned out sounding outright offensive in print. Who would have thought not everyone would understand my sense of humor?

As the journey continued, some weeks I would have a topic I was very passionate about and I found myself spending hours perfecting each and every line. Other weeks, however, I was so slammed with school work I had to write it in a half-daze between assignments at the Math Emporium. I apologize for the latter situations, but school unfortunately had to come first.

I saw the benefits good writing could have. On the few occasions I was able to put something together people could enjoy reading, I received pats on the back and handshakes from my friends. On other occasions, I realized how something as trivial as a comma splice was enough to be criticized for. 

The online comments were always the most interesting to read because they were often anonymous. I still laugh at the one reader who referred to our section as the “She Said, She Said.”

Touche sir, I commend you.

Comments could be at times outright critical with names being called out and accusations thrown. But in the end, I couldn’t be too upset because at least I knew someone was reading my work.

The low point of the year was when someone felt so passionately about their opinion they wrote a letter to the editor about how the “He Said, She Said” should be eradicated from the press. As someone new to being in the public eye, this one hurt. This individual clearly did not appreciate my sense of humor.

Luckily, I continued to write and I’d like to think I was able to stay away from controversy. The online comments never ceased, whether negative or positive, but that’s the beauty of America: freedom of speech.

I’ve expressed, on multiple occasions, my love for this country — as my obsession with buying USA-related things on eBay will attest to — which is largely due to our ability to say whatever we want, whenever we want.

I thank everyone who took time out of their busy days to read my humble opinions on a multitude of topics. 

I don’t care whether you agree with me or not on these issues because I’m proud of my opinion.

Finally, I’d like to thank my friends who were obligated to read this column. Goodbye everyone and thanks for putting up with my quirky sense of humor.

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A version of this article appeared in the Apr 27 issue of the Collegiate Times.