It鈥檚 the same process every year.
The clock strikes midnight. The previous year becomes a memory of the past. And new goals and dreams take focus.
For a lot of people, a new year signifies another chance to improve 鈥� to accomplish what we failed or maybe missed in the year prior.
This semester marks the start of my term as editor-in-chief of 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒. And as I enter this role, I've realized I'm no stranger to this feeling.
With the positions I鈥檝e held in the paper, I鈥檝e always focused on what I don鈥檛 know. What do others have that I don鈥檛? Which skills are my worst? In what ways am I not working hard enough?
After all, isn鈥檛 that how journalism 鈥� or even life in general 鈥� functions? There鈥檚 always something to chase and a desire to improve on what we lack.
Because of this, the new year can sometimes feel like a crutch rather than a relief. Instead of looking back on what I did accomplish, I fixate on what hasn't been done.
It's this pessimistic way of thinking that sometimes leads me to be unsure and doubtful of how I've performed in the positions I鈥檝e taken on each year.
But what I鈥檝e come to realize over the past few months is that doubt and insecurity don't help us reach our goals or improve. They prevent us from being able to fully excel in what we are passionate about.
Instead of motivating us to move forward, doubt holds us back 鈥� always looking for a way to prove that we aren鈥檛 deserving of our achievements.
Going into 2024, I鈥檓 tired of feeling this way.
I鈥檓 tired of consistently worrying that one wrong move or choice will prove to others that I don鈥檛 deserve to be in my role. I鈥檓 tired of second-guessing myself. And I鈥檓 tired of these thoughts blocking me from being proud of all that I have accomplished.
Over these last few weeks, I've realized I can appreciate how much I've grown in the almost three years I've been a part of this organization. I can take time to celebrate the positive changes our paper and staff have made over the past semester. And I can be proud telling people that I am 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒's 2024 editor-in-chief.
Setting goals and creating expectations for yourself will always be important, but it鈥檚 okay to take the time to recognize and appreciate your growth. It鈥檚 okay to tell yourself 鈥� and others 鈥� that you have worked hard to be where you are.
I hope that wherever you are in your journey at 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒, you will take some time with me this new year to take a step back and take pride in how far you鈥檝e come. It鈥檚 only then that we will be able to chase after what鈥檚 next, because we will have appreciated our past struggles.
So what is next? 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 needs the help of our community to reach our goals. Contact us if you have a story you think we should cover or a suggestion of how we could improve.
If joining 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 might be part of your 鈥渨hat鈥檚 next,鈥� fill out an and be on the lookout for more information for how you could be a part of the team.