Tastes Like... Promotion!!!

     It's always a good feeling when hard work pays off. I believe I mentioned it in my last blog post where I wrote about my time at the Kudzu Review this semester, but as a refresher, I applied to become Head of the Fiction Department since my current bosses are graduating this semester. And, after a week of waiting, I was notified that I did in fact get the position!

    This meant a lot to me, and not just because I finally have something new to add to my resume. The Kudzu Review has sort of represented a shift I made this year to properly engaging with my interests and future career in writing/editing. During my freshman year at FSU, I was kind of aimless in terms of progressing my English career and developing my sense of identity. I think I was just focused on having fun and getting through my first year of living away from home, along with all of the challenges that come with living in a cramped college dorm, a relationship, and going to a different college than most of my close friends from home. However, with a new year came a new sense of urgency and passion, and starting the Fall 2024 semester sort of felt like a reset of my college life, starting from ground zero yet again.

    This is where Kudzu came into play. For most of my life, I never really hung around with an English crowd, so my interests tended to clash with my other friends, who all tended to lean toward STEM or computers. Naturally, it was a little hard to break my initial nervousness during my first Kudzu meeting, but over time I was able to open up, participate in discussions, and eventually befriend a lot of the good people in my department! This had been a game-changer for me this year, and with my new position as head fiction editor, I want to strive to help other new members go through this process faster, so that everyone is comfortable with each other. I don't just want to run a Fiction section for a magazine- I want to make a friend group.

    I'd like to think that attitude is what earned me the promotion. During my interview, I had mentioned several times that while I think the practical side of the department was run very well, sometimes meetings could feel a little stiff, and not everyone would participate. My main goal is to make this a comfortable space where people, regardless of how shy they are, can feel confident enough to speak and feel appreciated for doing so. I don't know how I'll get to that point just yet, but I feel passionately enough about this concept to put some real work into it, whether it be more fun activities, a more active teams chat, or encouraging members to go to Kudzu events as a group.

    Obviously, I feel very proud that I was regarded highly enough by my bosses and peers to have gotten this position, but I maintain the position that I will focus on running this section efficiently and comfortably. If, by the end of my time as Head Editor for fiction, I am able to hold a meeting where everyone is able to have a voice, and people can laugh with each other and enjoy meetings, then I know I have accomplished my goal. Until then, I can't wait to start!