Hello fellow pillow talkers. This is the last column of my college career and I wanted to extend my gratitude to all of my pillow talk victims past and present. Thank you: Kirbi Kidd, Kristen Whitmore, Hilly Haber, Dawnell Powell, Vennie Encheva, Leah Dion, Aba Asibon, Gloria Jiajie Tang, Jesse Sugrue, Amanda McGrosky and Hannah Doherty. You have all been the essence of pillow talk and I could not have kept this column going without you.
I would also like to thank the readers of the Mount Holyoke News. The readers are whom we write, edit and publish for, and without you, the paper would not be as successful as it is. I would also like to thank my editors Megan McGrath and Sam Silver for supporting me throughout the year.
And finally, I would like to thank my Editor In Chief, Amanda Aultman. Amanda Aultman is my final pillow talk victim this semester and despite our interview being a professional (okay definite) conflict of interest, it is my interest to thank her for giving me this column as well as so much more. Amanda and I met our first year on the crew team. When we were racing in the spring, I lost control of my oar and I flew out of my seat into the seat of the rower behind me. That poor soul was Amanda.
Amanda started writing for the newspaper her first year and has been a part of the team ever since. Aside from running the paper each week, you can also find her at the Career Development Center where she works as a receptionist. When asked what the best part about being a senior is, Amanda revealed that it is, “Seeing all my hard work paying off through the light at the end of the tunnel.” The end of the tunnel for Amanda includes a move across the country where this English major and Art History minor plans to attend the University of Southern California next year to pursue a Masters in Broadcast Journalism.
While pondering about that one special highlight that she has had here at Mount Holyoke, Amanda came full circle and passionately said, “Without being involved with the newspaper, I feel that my experience here would have blurred into a collection of classes and parties. The Mount Holyoke News has given me something to work hard for every week and it has allowed me to make connections with the fabulous people on the newspaper as well as all over campus.”
A random fact that Amanda is ready to divulge is that she has an invisible condition called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). “In the seventh grade I was diagnosed with OCD and throughout my life thus far it has remained a constant challenge in my everyday life.” Amanda has certainly worked through her challenges in many ways, and I am honored to know such a relentless and beautiful person.
If Amanda could pillow talk with anyone on campus it would be John from the Dining Services in the Rockies. “I’ve known John since my very first day on campus. Together we swiped cards and cleaned the Rocky Dining Hall. I want to thank him for following my Mount Holyoke career and for always putting a smile on my face.”
As I always like to say, you may never know how just how much talking to the people around you may impact your precious time at Mount Holyoke. It certainly has mine. Congratulations class of 2010!
