The Editor-in-Chief Who Taught Me How to be an Editor-in-Chief
Dania Akkawi
Editor-in-Chief
After regular heated arguments with Judy Taha, The Caravan’s former editor-in-chief, who kept trying to convince me to write an editorial every single week back in fall 2018, I now find myself in disbelief that I ended up writing about her a year later.
This is all in light of of Judy’s birthday which was on September 25. Exactly one year ago on that day, we were all in the newsroom celebrating. But obviously, when you have Dr. Firas as your advisor, every surprise has a twist – a twist that we were all in on.
What was going to be a birthday celebration quickly transformed into the semester’s biggest prank. Because I talk to Judy all the time, I know this is something she’ll never forget.
Sorry Judy, I don’t really feel guilty about being on board with that prank.
Since the semester’s second issue comes around her birthday, I felt the need to reiterate how much Judy paved the way for everything that The Caravan became for me: home.
September is still very early into the semester and a year ago at that time, I didn’t know how things would work out. I was supposed to be Judy’s deputy for a semester and then when she’d graduate, I’d take her place.
And at least the first few months up until December of that semester in fall 2018, I was sure I’d quit. Things just weren’t working out and I was confused about how to do anything the second Judy would leave me to make decisions in her place.
Considering that I had been a reporter right before that and that my job as her deputy was supposed to make things easier for her, I definitely made them harder.
That was a clear sign I wouldn’t be able to do anything without her when she finally graduated and left. And honestly, if it wasn’t for her patience and her persistence that I kept trying, I would have definitely quit.
Although it was only one semester that I got to work with her, it was a special time and it helped me figure things out, figure myself out and realize what I want from this experience.
From teaching me how to be patient with everyone and how to always find the positive in every situation, I think things in The Caravan would’ve been very different right now if it wasn’t for Judy.
