Letter from Managing Director

Dearest Wake Readers, 

I, like many others, am torn between making this another letter, story, or sentiment about COVID-19 and looking foolish writing about anything else. But I can’t ignore what I’ve learned from being stuck at home. First of all, I’ve learned that I can watch “The Office” three times through and still cry at Pam and Jim’s wedding, that who you live with plays a huge role in your mood—even when you aren’t locked in a one-bedroom apartment together—and no matter how put-together someone looks, we all have at least one breakdown when faced with a worldwide pandemic. 

Aside from being the year of the coronavirus, this is also the year I will be entering my senior year of college. Like many others, it has forced me to look back sentimentally on the steps that have brought me here. I think it's easy to forget how special you are when you’re surrounded by thousands of other special people. One of the most amazing parts of college is collaborating with creative, insightful, and hardworking people, but it can also be demoralizing. I have often felt like I’m lesser when comparing myself to others who seem more motivated, more talented, and more eloquent than I am. Even in the midst of a statewide lockdown, I find myself insecure about others who somehow manage to be productive and not just watch “The Office.” 

I want to encourage you, our readers, to remember that we all cry and we all screw up. We don’t get every internship or job we apply to, we miss deadlines, we say hurtful things, and we don’t always know what to do when life falls apart. It feels corny to say, but in three years of college, mixed with an unforeseen disease, I’ve learned things almost never happen how you expect them to, and that’s usually for the better. 

My introduction to The Wake was accidentally crashing a staff meeting. I didn’t know that pitch meetings were only every other week, and I walked into a staff discussion. A week later, I attended the pitch meeting and applied to be a music intern. Instead, I became a features intern because no one else applied. But little did I know that that mistake and that internship would change my life. I was lucky enough to work for one of the best editors at The Wake, Chris Shea, who taught me everything I know, and when Chris left, I had the pleasure of trying to fill his shoes. Since then, I’ve gotten to write pieces that have changed how I look at the world and edit features that have touched my heart and overwhelmed me with pride. I implore you to keep writing, keep working, keep trying, and never discount a happy accident. 

Best, 

Emma Chekroun