Our team of writers work relentlessly behind the scenes to keep the Nexus site constantly updated, but who are these mysterious Camosun College students who keep us supplied with stories? Wonder no more, as our new series Meet Your Writers will help you get to know the names behind the pieces you read at Nexus.
Today, we get to know contributing writer Emily Welch.
When did you start writing for Nexus?
I started writing in October of 2018 (I had to actually look that up). I wrote an opinion piece about the overuse of the word “like” in our everyday speech. What was pretty great is it actually got a few people stirred up, which my editor was happy about. Starting out with a bit of controversy turned out to be a good thing!
What has your best experience been writing for Nexus?
Oh my God, there has been a lot of really great experiences. Probably when someone tells you that you have written something that has touched them or made a difference, it sounds cliché, but it is really wonderful to hear. I have written a lot of reviews, and when I started getting requests to review, that felt really good, not just because someone likes my writing, but because I love live theatre too! But, really, the best is when you hear that someone has tweeted your piece, or even if a piece that you’ve written has made somebody write something back that might not be that polite—all press is good press, right? And then, of course, I got to go to a student journalist conference in Vancouver, representing Nexus! I learned a lot, and the whole trip was an adventure. I honestly never expected so many opportunities to come from writing for the campus paper.
What about the worst? Be honest!
Really? Well, chasing people around who don’t show up for interviews or don’t answer emails are probably the most frustrating. I understand that stuff happens—I’ve screwed up myself, we all have—but that can get pretty frustrating, especially if it’s the same person doing it over and over, so you get to know their patterns.
How have you been managing with the COVID-19 lockdown and other measures?
At first, I didn’t manage very well. I am being very honest here. I had been managing a lot on my plate for a long time, at a fast and very full rate, and I was headed for a burnout. Then COVID-19 happened, and I didn’t cope too well at all. I went through some ups and downs, mostly downs, and it wasn’t fun. But I was able to pull myself together with a lot of thinking, reading, walking, and time. Which I had a lot of! And I’ve cuddled my cats a lot, which they’ve dutifully succumbed to. I have dealt well with the online classes, I’ve enjoyed them, I’ve enjoyed my teachers, but I miss campus a lot. I miss my friends. I do know, though, that this is temporary, and like all things in life, it is an experience to learn from. We can look back on it and say, “remember when the plague hit?’ and really mean it! What I really want to know after experiencing something like COVID is: what really has meaning now? I think I have a bit of a better idea.
What is the most pressing issue facing Camosun students today and based on what you know being a Nexus writer, what needs to be done about it?
The most pressing issue is financial. I have to agree with other writers here and say that institutions aren’t always listening to the students’ or their staff’s needs; their real needs. I understand that the institution has to stay afloat and has to manage to support itself, but really, how is it going to manage without really understanding what goes on with its people? The lining inside any organization is the well-being of the people who work there, and then they can give their best to their students. I sometimes believe that gets forgotten. That’s my two cents.
How can people find you on social media?
I post my articles on Facebook. I have to do more on social media; I’ve been a bit lax. All my Nexus pieces are there to be read, just Google my name plus “Nexus newspaper”!