It’s been almost a year since I picked up my first Nexus. To be quite honest with you, I didn’t enjoy the content that much. I read the blind date like every other student and skimmed the editorial. Nearing the end of my read, I flicked to a page advertising for new writers. Now, I never thought I was all that good but I had always liked to write and voice my opinion. That night I took the magazine home and asked my friends for advice, “How do I carefully craft this email? What if the editorial team could tell I was an amateur columnist?” I think I sat writing a 30 word email for an hour because I was so nervous.
The next afternoon I received a welcoming reply asking for some samples. I stopped in my tracks. I didn’t really have samples of my writing. I said I liked to write but it mainly consisted of five sentences followed by five hours of writing block. This resulted in spending the entire next day writing two rushed pieces that I was less than proud of. Surprisingly they emailed back to say they were putting one in the next issue. It happened so quickly and all of a sudden I was part of the writing group.
Fast-forward to now and my life is completely different. That’s no exaggeration either. Before my time at Nexus I loved the campus and wider community. I wanted to be involved somehow and for it to come from the heart. Last year I had spent just over five months in Hamilton and now I have a voice for the city to hear. I walk down Grey Street and see beautiful people in Duck Island, Recycle Boutique or Grey Street Kitchen. Their local souls have a warmth, I can see it in their eyes. I am grateful to serve them through Nexus.
I’ve had access to the Nexus archives. Piles upon piles of magazines dating back to the 60s. I’ve been able to learn about the history of the University and see how campus life has changed. And I am envious of the past. I’ve noted my envy of past campus culture in several editorials. A time before online papers and pandemics seemed more wholesome. I see my time as the Editor getting the stick of it. Campus culture is in decline. The question I ask is whether life on campus still exists? Nexus has been here before and will be here after, but I’m unsure if campus and the community will still have that same energy I have been honoured to see.
