There will never be a ‘right time’

It would be so easy to spend your entire life in an anxiety-induced purgatory. I spent years thinking I wasn’t old enough, educated enough or likeable enough to go after the things I’ve wanted. It took me until recently to realize that there was never going to be a “right time,” and it was hurting me to wait for one.

I came across current Campus and Community (C&C) Editor Taylor Stumbaugh multiple times before ever messaging her during my pursuit of finding a college roommate. Between our baby-faced selves, she seemed so much cooler than I was. And yet, after all that time wasted wondering if she would like me, it only took about five hours to share our entire life's stories and become what has turned into, possibly, the greatest duo aside from Sean and Gus in “Psych.”

I didn’t mean to join The Student; I frankly had no interest in journalism and was afraid to publish my photographic work alongside my name.

I remember walking into the newsroom the first time — particularly the lime green walls, the fact that there were significantly too many people packed in there and the feeling of being intimidated by Abigail Ankeney perched atop her desk, looking down on all of us nervous first-year students. We quickly split off into our individual sections, and I met then-photo editor Jake Ruffer for the first time.

Darn you, Jake, for being so encouraging and kind. I would likely still be an art major without you. I’m sorry for turning in a posed portrait as my first assignment. I am thankful to have learned better since.

As I continued at The Student, I met some of my closest friends, many of whom I can assuredly say I could (and did) travel thousands of miles with — and I’d do it again.

Working my way to the over 1,890 published photos and articles that I’ve accumulated over the years was, quite frankly, an absurd task. First-year me desperately wanted to become an editor — without the audacity that The Student has granted me, I may have ended at just that.

My former and fellow editors, now close friends, pushed me to embrace my goals, granting me positions at The Student as assistant photo editor, recruitment and retention chair and later digital media editor. These friends counseled me through my decision to change career paths to photojournalism, lamented with me over difficult stories and convinced me that my work and my ideas were not only valid, but great.

They have changed who I am in and outside of these four (thankfully no longer green) walls.

Without The Student constantly pushing me out of my somewhat narrow comfort zone, I would likely not believe I am talented enough to become a professional photographer.

A young Sarah Frosch smiles as she holds a camera. Photo provided by Sarah Frosch

To Abigail and former Managing Editor Luke Macy, I’d like to think that we were Ohio’s equivalent of the iconic Kermit, Fozzie and Gonzo trio in “The Great Muppet Caper.” I love the fact that anyone who knows me knows a piece of you, too.

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I am glad to have found such a strong group of people who have inspired me to befriend others — you know who you are — in the same unabashed way.

Since my first year, I’ve wondered what would be in this column. I knew no matter what I said, it could never encapsulate all of the feelings that have gone into my work at this incredible newspaper and the love I’ve had for the people who came along with it.

To my not-yet-graduated chickens, please enjoy your time here. The last 200 years have been filled with a group of passionate, anxiety-filled, semi-adults creating a newspaper. Please remember to do this work out of love, not a sense of obligation. Go into this world with audacity — no one this age is fully certain of where they're going in life, there is no reason you have to.

There will never be a time when you feel like you are fully prepared to take on the world; This is why you have friends and formerly-scary editors around you on all sides.

Assistant C&C Editor Shannon Mahoney once told me: “I didn’t know that you and your camera could actually be physically separated.”

As I head out to find a job in the real world, I see that maybe she was right on that one.

And now for my final statement in The Miami Student, the oldest college newspaper west of the Alleghenies (and coolest in the entire world): You all can pry the Oxford comma from my cold. dead. hands.

froschse@miamioh.edu

Sarah Frosch is a senior media and communication major with minors in studio art and art history. She is the Digital Media Editor and will be pursuing photography and multimedia production after graduation.