Navigating college is anything but easy. It is a constant game of search, both literally and figuratively, whether that consists of searching for what classes to take or searching for friendships that will last a lifetime.

Luckily for me, my search for finding a place I felt understood, heard, and seen was short-lived when I joined The Prospector last fall.

As a multimedia journalism major with a minor in rhetoric and creative writing, I am honored to have been appointed the position of editor-in-chief at The Prospector for the fall semester.

This opportunity is one I never imagined, but now that I have attained it, I am excited to embark on this journey with the help of my peers. While I have enjoyed my tenure as sports editor this past year, throughout my journey I realized my potential to do more for the student newspaper and become a more well-rounded journalist by taking on this leadership role.

As the newest editor-in-chief in a long line of successors, I have set goals into place to see the publication thrive and continue to prosper.

I aspire to lead a staff of talented student journalists who feel confident and supported to write about some of the most pivotal issues happening in the UTEP and El Paso community. Similar to this, I hope to lead a newspaper that students and members of these communities can trust for its commitment to telling stories driven by accuracy, based on timeliness, and rooted in humanity.

I also aspire to make sure that we not only get the UTEP community more involved in reading copies of our publication but encourage them to follow us on our social media platforms and give our podcast a listen to increase our viewership and ensure the hard work we are doing is seen and heard.

With many aspirations in mind, I could not have gotten to this position without the love and support of my family and friends. Their constant support has allowed me to find a comfortable space to follow my dreams and reach this position.

While some have parted ways to pursue their dreams, the friendships I have made at this publication helped get me to where I am now. Thank you Victoria (Nicole) Almaguer, Anahy Diaz, Maria L. Guerrero Duran, Itzel Giron, Hugo Hinojosa, Annabella Mireles, and Victoria Rivas for believing in me even when I did not believe in myself so that I could get to where I am today. There are not enough words to express the love and gratitude I have for each of you.

For a few years, UTEP was just a place I was interested in academically, but in joining the Student Media & Publications Department I have found a second home. The Prospector is more than just a newspaper, but a place I will forever be indebted to for all the opportunities it has brought me and will continue to bring.

For 107 years, The Prospector has consisted of an overwhelming number of passion driven journalists that write its headlines and tell the stories that need to be heard. Every story published is a piece of history that showcases the hard work of these journalists and the voice of the community and those to follow. I am confident that my staff and I will ensure it is history worth remembering.

As we embark on a new semester, I encourage those with questions, story ideas, tips, guest columns, letters to the editors, or inquiries to contact The Prospector at 915-747-5161 or [email protected].

Emily Autumn Velasquez is the editor in chief and may be reached at [email protected]; @emilyautumn20 on Twitter; @byemilyautumn on Instagram.