Letter from the Media Manager

Hey Wakies,

Is it just me, or has life been moving pretty fast lately? It doesn’t feel like too long ago that I sat on the rickety balcony of my Dinkytown house and felt the sun on my bare feet. Now, I’m trudging through the snow on my way to class wearing the snow boots that I don’t like that much. It’s funny how what you wear can have such an effect on your mood.

Anyway, I urge you to pause and reflect on where you were one or two years ago because that’s what I’ve been doing. I bet you’ve accomplished a few feats that you never imagined you would, felt the agony of disappointment, changed your major, changed it again, and maybe even experienced a heartbreak or two.

Around two years ago, during my freshman year here, I attended my first Wake meeting, and I was beyond intimated. I lacked the confidence that motivates me now when I nervously raised my hand to claim a story.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that person who was too scared to raise her hand and what she would think of me now. Would she be proud of me? Troubled with who I am? Would she even recognize the girl who goes to concerts by herself and dances in her basement to Mitski every weekend? Probably not.

I’m just trying my best right now, which is what I think we all should focus on. I’m trying my best to find joy in quotidian things and moments of happiness for others--like when you see someone catch the bus after running after it, or when a friend gushes to you about their newest crush. These moments make the winter a little less cumbersome and remind me that I'll see the sun again soon.

Ultimately, I think freshman year Macie would be proud of me. And if you give it some thought, I think your younger self would feel the same about you.