Heroes aren’t born, they’re made.

With my first year at Eastern almost complete, I would like to take the time and reflect on the experiences and things I have learned during my first year.

College life can be tremendously scary, especially for transfer students, who have little or no idea of the reality of university life as compared to a community college.

That’s right. I am one of many who came to Eastern as a transfer student and in my first year in Charleston, I have learned and accomplished a lot.

Three years at Kankakee Community College prepared me for Eastern. Every situation I faced, it prepared me for the things I have learned here so far.

As I came to Eastern, I decided to write for The Daily Eastern News.

When I first came to work for the DEN, I was nothing more than a scrawny staff reporter learning the ropes of journalism.

To learn from experienced writers and professors who had been in the business longer than I was my main goal in my first semester.

I had learned from the best in my first semester, like then-Verge Editor Krystal Moya, then-Associate News Editor Bob Bajek, my first News Editor Emily Zulz and Opinions Editor David Thill.

It feels like just yesterday that I was conducting my first story interview for the DEN. I still remember the nerves that overtook me.

I’m not saying some of the editors now aren’t the best, I’m just saying you never forget the staff you started your career with.

I learned the value of editing in my first year, as well as how to conduct interviews and how to conduct myself during said interviews and some of the ins and outs of the newspaper business.

The real trick in coming to a new place and attending a new school is finding a way to make new friends.

At the tail end of my first semester, I went to this bar called Stu’s on Fourth Street, just to check it out and see what they offered as an establishment.

During Christmas break, I decided that I would start the spring semester by going there the first Friday of the semester to check out the Four O’ Clock Club Stu’s started offering.

What it boils down to is a time to hang out and chat with the staff as well as others who came in to enjoy the festivities. In the end, I made going to Stu’s every Friday evening the start of my weekend.

While there, I learned from the amazing staff how to chill and have fun, and to let the pressure of school, home life and work go.

It was there at Stu’s that I made a slew of new friends, as well as befriending most of the staff employed there.

Through thick and thin, my friends stuck with me through the good times as well as the bad ones, giving me advice along the way.

The first year at a new place, like my first year at Eastern, can be scary and it can make or break a person.

I just think that if it were not for the efforts of all of these influential people who have helped me along the way, and believe me, there are more who have, I would not be the hero of my own story.

Jose Gonzalez is a junior journalism

major and can be reached at 581-7942

or DENopinions@gmail.com.

So, what food best describes you? Are you a sweet dessert, tangy spice, or delicious fruit? Find out by taking this quiz.

(more…)