Each year, graduating editors are given 30 final column inches — “30” was historically used to signify the end of a story — to reflect on their time at The Hatchet, published in the final issues of the year.
I remember being on FaceTime with a friend during my quarantine in International House. It was during the tail end of my first year, I had caught COVID from hanging out with a close friend. I was in the midst of multiple existential crises, but I had an idea to start recording our conversations and make something artistic out of it. After I edited the video and uploaded it, I had a thought: “What if I could just do this forever?”
Joining The Hatchet was me pursuing a dream and chasing the answer to that question. I grew up loving movies, and from a young age, I only ever wanted to make them. My personality and career interests took twists and turns but two constants always remained: I loved talking to people and I loved using cameras. I just wanted to find an excuse to do both. I remember asking “What if there was a place where I could do that?” and then The Hatchet appeared.
My first setup was my iPhone 11, a wired lavalier mic that connected to my phone and a cheap Amazon tripod. My only editing experience was on iMovie and I was insanely intimidated by the Adobe Suite. The one and only Amanda Plocharski sent me out on my first video, “GW Hoops Fest raises excitement for upcoming basketball season.” My footage was ok, acceptable at best, and some of the visuals were way too blue.
I wanted to get better and produce videos that looked like the movies I watched and like the short films my favorite YouTubers made. I was determined to try and try again to become a better videographer and editor. Late night edits trying to figure out how to synchronize external audio with visuals, Saturday afternoons spent covering events I knew nothing about and correcting awful shaking in my clips and drafting interview questions mid class. My time as a reporter was a lot, but it taught me so much.
It was daunting looking at the content I was producing and looking at the type of content I wanted to produce. I still struggle with this. For a second, I almost didn’t continue. I wanted to keep learning the basics on my own, and I was concerned that joining as an editor would rush me. But then I talked to this really cute girl named Nikki and she convinced me to stay on. She said the workload gets easier and the editing becomes funner. She was right about the second thing.
This interaction made me ask “What if?” What if I stay? What if I leave? What if I didn’t choose to keep pursuing video? What if I’d joined a different section? What if, what if, what if?
Honestly, who cares.
The time spent getting to know Nikki, becoming friends with Kiko, Ava, Lindsay and Caitlin felt so much more productive than obsessing over the question. It became annoying to ask “what if?” With time I started saying “let’s see,” instead. I had to remember that the original “what if?” was based on the idea of talking to cool people and making cool things out of those conversations.
Upon taking over as editor, I stumbled upon a sticky note left behind by previous video editors that read, “expand the video section to one more person.” I burned this into my head and made sure I could include as many people in our productions as possible. I always wanted to give people the chance to produce the videos they wanted to make.
I was so excited to start off with Ava and meet all the new reporters and increase the quality of our videos. We had just left the era of the pandemic, and I wanted to tell stories that unified people, highlighting the voices of those whose story might have gone unheard. I wanted to teach people how to create quality pieces just as I was taught.
We produced five great videos, and I learned so much. Ava and I could not have been more proud of our team for producing the stories that we did. And then we left for abroad.
Even then, I could never be too far away from The Hatchet. I was still checking in on the channel and bugging Sophia and Kiko while I was away. I felt like I needed to be able to come into the townhouse on Sundays and talk about what would make a fun video with my team.
I realized I wanted to be back so badly because The Hatchet gave me more than just an opportunity to chase an answer to my question, it gave me friends. It became my whole life and introduced me to the coolest people I know. The Hatchet also gave me a place to talk about things I am interested in and passionate about. It gave me direction and ways to figure out how to make this “what if” thing turn into a “let’s find out,” and I will always be thankful for that.
The Hatchet was the thing that was always there. I’ve turned in assignments late, missed hangouts with friends, ignored my physical and mental health and even missed important career events just because there was always a video to work on. I don’t say this to flex, I say this to show it’s bittersweet.
These points of frustration and desperation led me to want to quit — more times than I’d like to admit. Regardless, The Hatchet was one thing that was always there. Even in those difficult moments, the feelings I got from publishing a new video and seeing my reporters get their new bylines brought joy to me. I could see how excited they were to watch their own videos.
As of writing this, we’ve published 19 incredible videos with about five more still in production before we officially head out. I am so happy I stuck with it and dealt with the all-nighters, the 13-hour edit sessions, the social media repurposing edits and the venture to make our videos better one shot and interview at a time. We’ve grown the section to be larger than just a couple of people. We have a small group of weirdos and goofs. I love my video team <3.
By the time Ava, Kiko and I started this past fall, it was go time. Our style changed, our ambitions grew and I knew that we would go on to make stellar videos this past year. And we have. Race to the Hill was the culmination of entire volumes worth of ideas. I can’t tell you how happy I was to finally produce that. I also loved our inauguration video, the boxing video, battle of the bands and so many others.
I think what makes good editor and the role the audiovisual medium plays in this paper is that of a connector. You find the patterns and make those voices stand out. The underlying through line is this desire to fully capture the complexity, beauty and universality amongst people. The lessons I’ve learned at The Hatchet will go everywhere with me. One person, one smile, one camera click at a time.
There is so much more I would have liked to have mentioned, and I could go on and on, but I know people have things to do. I am thankful for each and every person who helped us create the pieces that we’ve put out these past couple of years. I learn from my co-editors and from my reporters and from every person I have interacted with on this paper. Being part of The Hatchet led me to meet incredible people, be blessed with great professional opportunities and have the funnest social experiences I’ve had so far. Thank you for it all. There is no other place I would have chosen to have spent all those nights spent in the townhouse basement (okay maybe like a couple of places especially when it got too hot or when it was too late at night but you catch my drift).
Now it’s time for what I call The Hatchet Oscar ceremony where I thank anyone and everyone.
Nikki: I need a separate medium to express how much I appreciate you and what you mean to me. You gave me an experience like no other, and I am so incredibly grateful and lucky to have you in my life. Thank you for the laughter, the tears, the joy, advice, for your patience, for your kindness, thank you for it all. I could not have imagined myself spending a better time during college, being by your side has been such an amazing experience. You are so insanely smart I have no doubt you will accomplish great things in your life. Your drive to make the world a better place pushes me to do the same day by day. I love you always, excited to see where we go next. <3
Lindsay & Caitlin (and honorary Hatchet member Remi): You are the goofiest goobers I know and I am so incredibly proud to call you all my friends. You all made my college experience so worth it. You welcomed me and made me feel included from the second I met y’all. I am so happy that we all got to travel abroad and spend time together. I will never forget all of the laughs and fart jokes. Y’all are some of the kindest, most hard working, most intelligent and funny people I know. Thank you for an incredible college experience. Lindsay, you are so freaking smart and one of the kindest people I have ever met. I’m excited to see everything that you’ll do and visit you in your future library. Caitlin, my Luddite sister! You are so insanely funny. You externalize a lot of my internal thoughts, and I thank you for that. You are also an incredible writer, and I’m looking forward to seeing what stories you’ll break. Remi, the only person who can match my appreciation for random noises and wacky accents, I appreciate you. You’re such a strong person, and I legit take notes from you on how to make it in this world. You are so accomplished it’s not even funny. Y’all rock.
Ava & Kiko: I could not have asked for better editors to be by my side. Both of you made coming in on Sundays worth it and made doing this job fun. I love how creative and funny you both are. Kiko, you have such a unique voice in your work, and I love how you view things. Genuine artistic taste. Ava, you are so freaking funny, thank you for dealing with my type-a-ness and for being such a kickback person to be around. You both genuinely taught me so much about how to be a good editor. Could not have done this without y’all and would not have asked for better people to work alongside me. You are both incredible friends.
Ethan, Sage & Josh: Y’all are my guys, and I’m so honored to have been able to work with y’all. I look forward to seeing where you all go and to seeing our friendships grow. Let’s kick it before we leave. Ethan, you’re so multifaceted, music, fashion, photography, you inspire me. Sage, you have an eye like no other, I genuinely look up to you. Josh, you have an incredible discipline, and I’m so happy you joined even if it was this last year. I’m happy it brought us closer bro. I appreciate y’all.
Nick Perkins: Thanks for being part of the Nick club. So sad to think that there was once five and now there will only be one. I appreciate your writing and your easy going attitude. Let’s keep in touch, man.
Grace, Faith, Ianne, Cristina: I am very impressed with everything that you have accomplished this year and with everyone’s tenure as a management team. You are all hard working and inspiring individuals, and I will take the work ethic, advice and fun basement times with me everywhere I go. Thank you all.
The entirety of multimedia: You are all some of the most talented people I have had the privilege of working with. Keep making cool stuff, keep learning your craft, You all inspire me to keep working harder and make cooler things. Please, please, please, let’s stay in touch, we all need to collab one way or another, I genuinely mean that. Photo section, I know I give y’all so much BS but genuinely I am inspired by y’all. Still down to fight tho, lmk.
Basement crew (Anna, Diana, Anusha, Mollie, Jackson, Dylan and Peaches): Y’all are chill af, thank you for the jokes, the shows, the late night CVS runs. Continue to keep the vibes up for everyone!
Amanda & Sarah: Thank you both for bringing me on to join this organization. I am proud to have been your reporter. You taught me the basics of multimedia and I could not thank you enough for that. Hope you are both doing well.
Literally everyone else on The Hatchet (past and present): Truly I mean everyone else, there’s just too many people to mention, you all rock, and I love that I was able to get to know some of you even if it was for like a day. Special shout out to: Rachel for inspiring me to get brown docs, Fiona for taking on EIC next year, Sejal for the times we had class together and the short time we worked together, Ethan Benn for bringing such a great attitude every Sunday and Nuria for being freaking awesome!
Volume 122: Good luck with everything next year, I’m positive you’ll do awesome. Please, let me know if you need anything from me!
Marcel, Ananya, Colin, & Misha: I wish you all the best! You are all very talented and I’m super looking forward to seeing your future work. I’ll be tuned in to see the great videos y’all drop. Have fun abroad and enjoy every single second of working in this organization. Never be afraid to reach out to other Hatchet folks or to myself. Let me know if you need anything.
My video reporters: You are all so awesome and talented. Keep learning, keep producing, keep being curious. Special shout out to Karolina, Axcel, Serena, Kris, Emily, Milo, Saher, Anna and Sophia!
All my non-Hatchet friends that dealt with me while I was complaining about The Hatchet: Thank you all for dealing with me. You all mean a lot to me. List is too long to name so I’ll group you all.
My mentors: Seth Saavedra, Charlie Weber, Michael Padilla and Mikel Arraiz: Thank you all for teaching me how to be a better storyteller and directing me in this life during my times of confusion.
Familia Aguirre, Solis, Zafiro y Rivas: A mi hermosa familia, los quiero a todos. Ustedes me dan la fuerza para seguir echándole ganas. Los amo a todos y les mando un abrazote <3.
Thank you all. Manos a la obra.
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