The Closest I’ll Ever Get to a Speech at the Oscars

I sat in the back right corner of Lowell Thomas 027 on Sept. 6, 2022, at 9:15 p.m. 

I had just started my freshman year at Marist College, with an English major and a minor in Fashion Merchandising. I couldn’t believe a club was meeting so late at night. 

Hannah Tone ‘26, my admitted students day-friend, had convinced me to attend the first Marist Circle meeting of the semester. After noticing her confidence, I tried to fake my own. 

The Editor-in-Chief at the time, Lauryn Starke ‘23, led the meeting with ease, carefully balancing professionalism and camaraderie. I was immediately captivated by her ability to keep the room engaged, cover her agenda and keep a smile on her face. 

“I need to be up there one day. Doing that,” I said. 

Of course, I didn’t say that out loud.

I barely even forced myself to claim my first story, which was “Fall Fashion Favorites,” a disastrous piece of literature that was gracefully saved by the Arts & Culture Editor, Amanda Dibre ‘23.

But I did think it. I was practically trembling in the back of the room, and I said to myself, “I’ll be the editor-in-chief one day.”

Clearly, I’ve never been one for being humble.

But looking back, I am grateful for the overly ambitious wannabe in the back of the room, because once I got that idea in my head, I was not going to stop until I achieved it.

I continued writing through my freshman year, (slowly) getting better with each article I wrote. Each Tuesday, I’d rush to the Leo lobby to see if I made it in print. Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn’t. But I continued through sophomore year under the leadership of Sam Murphy ‘24, and I think sophomore year was when I found my footing. 

On Nov. 6, my birthday, I got an email from Sam offering me the role of co-campus news editor. 

“CO-campus news editor?!” I thought to myself. I mean, I was beyond thrilled. But CO? “I think I can do the job myself.”

Not only did I think that, but I had the nerve to email Sam and say, “Thank you so much for the opportunity… but I am confident that I can take on this role myself.”

Sam replied and said “No,” of course, and told me my co-editor would be Ben Leeds ‘26. I never thought that the person I did NOT want to work with would end up being the most influential figure in my journalism career. 

As we worked through sophomore year, my Circle journey came to an awkward spot when I was going to study abroad in Florence for the first semester of my junior year. 

As I had the absolute time of my life in Italy, I realized that I missed writing. And let me tell you: if you’re living it up in a foreign country and you miss something, it might be worth revisiting. 

I posted on my Instagram story, asking if anyone wanted to be interviewed for a feature about their time abroad so far. A few people said yes, which wound up making for fascinating stories. One actually won me a Certification of Merit from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, so it was a win-win. 

And when I got back from abroad, I dove right back in. The Breen-Holton administration offered me the position of co-managing editor, which became the turning point in my Circle career from part-time asynchronous to full-time in-person. 

That semester was full of ups and downs, all of which Andrew Breen ‘25 and Erin Holton ‘25 gracefully sorted out and taught me valuable lessons along the way. I truly cannot thank this EIC duo enough – you paved the way for me to be where I am now. 

And here I am. 

Without sounding dramatic and cocky, being editor-in-chief for my senior year at Marist has been the most rewarding experience of my life. It has also been the most grueling, but nothing great comes from being lazy. 

I know we all see the newspapers on each rack in every building, sitting there, collecting dust, being used as a backdrop for bulletin boards, promotional events and even to keep the floor from getting dirty. Yeah. I’m going there again. 

But what you don’t see is the countless hours of hard work poured into those four sheets of folded paper, the multitude of talents it takes to operate a newspaper and the feeling we get when it comes out great. 

I can’t explain the joy I feel when I see someone take a paper off the stack or see someone like one of our posts on Instagram. I took a picture of a random person yesterday because they were holding a paper. 

But being editor-in-chief has never been a solo job. And I have way too many people to thank for how my Marist Circle story has played out. 

Ben and I started out as awkward co-editors and quickly became close friends. I can confidently say that I would not be the same person (and journalist) without Ben’s influence on me. He has shaped my Marist story in countless ways, and I feel lucky to have worked and grown alongside someone who people will one day call their biggest inspiration in sports communication. I can’t wait to see him covering the Super Bowl and the World Series, doing what he is destined to do. 

Ben and I were also the first editor-duo, which is now the model. So if nothing else, you got something right, Sam.

Cora Flynn ‘26 is not only an incredible journalist but a ray of sunshine and the best second-hand man. Cora was always there to be a level-minded leader and emphasize the appreciation of every writer and editor. 

Emma Gaecklein ‘26, whom I can always count on to understand my joke and make me laugh, you are a fantastic writer and the kindest soul. You always keep things together with a smile on your face and without a complaint, even when you have every right to. 

Hannah Tone ‘26, my first Marist friend. I am so lucky to call you one of my best friends and biggest inspirations. I’ll never forget how impressed and jealous I was when your story made the front cover for the first issue of freshman year. And you wrote that with ease. The Circle wouldn’t be the Circle without you, and I can’t believe how far we’ve come.

Professor Basinger, there is a whole article. 

As for the rest of the graduating staff, I cannot wait to see what you all accomplish. And the people who will continue showing up next year have the potential to be the best staff yet. 

Owen Whelan ‘27, the incoming editor-in-chief, is one of the hardest-working people I have ever met. His work ethic, intelligence and ability to light up a room are gifts, and I have no doubt that Owen will lead with confidence and positivity.

Jacquelyn Drain ‘27 and Ben Rossi ‘27, you both possess knowledge and talent that I know you will use to the full extent in your incoming roles. It is like a weight off our shoulders to pass our roles to the three of you. 

I’ll wrap it up here. I feel like the music is starting to play when they want to signal someone to end their speech. 

Thank you, Marist Circle!