I hate transitions. I can’t stand the shifting period of time during life changes, moves, or important events. It’s not even the change itself that is daunting, but the limbo period where you know the change is coming. No matter how excited you are for whatever the thing may be or how sad you are to leave where you are now, there’s this window of uncertainty and discomfort as the change happens that overtakes everything else I’m feeling.
Coming to college was a huge transition. The stretch in my life when I was touring schools, writing my application essay, and waiting to hear back might have been the most anxious time in my life. I applied to a different program at each of the nine schools I submitted to, I wrote my essay about the most constant thing I’d had in my life (music!), and I landed here at Quinnipiac mostly by chance.
Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled to be going to college and excited for this next chapter in my life. I was just so scared of turning the page that I took almost no autonomy in the decision.
I joined a few clubs during the fall semester: Pep Band, GSA, and WQAQ. I stuck with Pep Band from the first game, and went on to become Director in my final year, traveling around the country in support of our Women’s and Men’s Hockey and Basketball teams.
If you haven’t heard the story of my first (and only) GSA meeting, consider yourself lucky. And then, WQAQ. I attended the first training that semester, and nearly threw up. I couldn’t understand any of the equipment, I was intimidated by the staff training me, and I had no idea what my show would be called or what I would play. So I left.
Then, something happened that spring semester that pushed me to try again. I was determined to try something I failed at the first time, and gave it another shot. I did a separate training in January, and it stuck. I started up an Instagram page with the measly skills I learned in COM130, barely spoke during my first show, and played 15 of my favorite songs at the time.
The first meeting that semester had maybe 30 people, and almost half of them were my hallmates from the fourth floor ledges Communications LLC. I got a chance to photograph my first ever show that semester, brought one of my best friends on air, and started to look forward to Fridays each week because it meant it was time for Grifter’s Bone.
Much to my surprise, I won the overall Show of the Semester award that spring (and they spelled my name wrong). That risk to try something again started to pay off in ways I didn’t even begin to understand yet.
Then, another transition. I was encouraged to apply for an Executive Board position for the next year, and I took on the role of Multimedia Manager, overseeing WQAQ’s social media accounts and website. I volunteered at Fall Fest, posted about a million times on Instagram, and continued to grow my show.
We had around 50 people at meetings that year, and the station only got bigger as the year went on. I had my first real taste of leadership, and despite going through some of the scariest transitions in my personal life that year, WQAQ had become my home in Hamden. I got to work on a team with some of my best friends, and we were able to accomplish an incredible amount throughout the year.
That spring, through encouragement from staff and friends, I took a leap and was elected General Manager for the 2024-25 year.
I’m sure that by this point, you’ve noticed a theme. The transition was terrible and scary, but the experience ended up being one of the most rewarding of my life, and I came out the other side a better person. That year, I certainly spent more time in the station than in my dorm. Actually, I’ve probably spent more awake hours in the station than in my dorm throughout my entire college experience.
In the last year of my Bachelor’s degree, I managed a station with nearly 100 active members and content on air all week long. I led a team of amazing, motivated, and talented managers, and together, we supported the station as it grew. We hosted Music for Meals as a benefit concert for the first time in almost a decade, grew our partnerships with local venues, hosted many a karaoke night, made some super cute merch, sent members to some of the biggest concerts that year, and I even had my on-stage acting debut when WQAQ hosted Quinnipiac Tonight.
As the station grew and I learned about myself as a leader, I also learned a lot about myself as an individual. There was so much transition throughout this year, and a small part of me began to see that change wasn’t always negative.
As I earned my Bachelor’s degree and planned to return for my Master’s degree this year, I prepared myself for a huge transition: returning to general member status after two years in leadership. Then, the opportunity presented itself for me to apply to an open Executive Board role as Production Manager.
This was almost more challenging than stepping into either of my previous roles, and I can certainly say that this job tested my skills in unique ways. I’m incredibly proud of everything I’ve accomplished this year, and so grateful to have been a part of this team again. I’m most proud of the content updates to our on-air library, nearly doubling our list of songs for rotation and adding a few dozen new Top of Hour and Promo spots, with the help of a few eager general members.
As I look back on my time in WQAQ and think about what my legacy looks like, I truly believe that this content and the upgrades made to our on-air function will be the most long-lasting impact I could have. This was also definitely the best year for Grifter’s Bone, and I got to do some super cool things like photograph multiple of my favorite artists, participate in an on-air interview with QU President Marie Hardin, and take part in some of my favorite WQAQ events throughout the year.
And now, writing this article just a few days from graduation, I am approaching the biggest transition of my life. I truly can’t imagine a world in which I don’t get to hop on air Friday mornings and play whatever music my mood dictates that week. I don’t want to think about the reality of not spending every spare moment with my friends in SC203. And yet, I have to. There’s no way around this transition; I can’t cheat myself into having one more year here.
(Unless someone wants to sponsor another Master’s degree. Let me know.)
I don’t think it’s possible for me to address every single person who impacted my time here at WQAQ. To name every manager I’ve worked alongside, every alumni who has helped me put together the pieces, every advisor, every RCS Support staff member who has answered my calls, every member who I have taught something, or who has taught me something, seems impossible.
My time here has been a mosaic of so many different people that it would make this the world’s longest senior sendoff, and Zach might just kill me. So instead, I will share some of my biggest takeaways from the past four years in WQAQ. Things that the people of WQAQ have taught me, and hopefully things I can pass along to those who come after me.
Go to every meeting, talk to people you don’t know, and make new connections through your peers in WQAQ. We have members from all across Quinnipiac’s community, and you might find an opportunity here that you would never be exposed to otherwise.
Listen to as many shows as possible and make it known that you care. It’s really easy to get stuck in a mindset where you think the only person who listens to your show is your mom. Someone is always listening, even when you don’t know it. You’ll learn so much by listening to other people’s shows, and a quick “I love your theme today” or “that was such a great song choice” text will go so far.
Take up the opportunities to cover shows and interview artists. It might just lead to you getting to photograph your new favorite!
Lean on your team. Reach out for support when you need it, and don’t try to bear the weight of everything alone.
Get involved. Take risks. Apply for positions that excite you, volunteer for things you’ve never tried before, and don’t let a fear of failure hold you back.
Try things twice if you need to. Sometimes the second time is the charm.
Spell people’s names right. If someone receives the Show of the Semester award in their first semester and their name is spelled wrong, they won’t forget it.
Don’t let anyone convince you that college radio is dead. In fact, college radio is growing in an extremely exciting way. We went from under 40 shows a semester during my first year to just shy of 100 this year. That is massive, and shouldn’t be underestimated.
One of the best things you can do is look to WQAQ’s past. We are one of the oldest organizations on campus, and we have a rich history with incredible alumni that you can learn from.
Make friends with Dave, Jackie, and Mercedes. You will learn more from them than from some of your classes.
We don’t know why Obama followed the WQAQ X account, but it’s an important thing that you should know.
Host shows with your friends as often as possible, and keep one hand near the dump button.
This is literally just college radio. Never forget to have fun and keep it silly.
Transitions are hard, but inevitable. Don’t let the discomfort of the in between hold you back from doing the things that are exciting or important to you.
And now, for the final time of my WQAQ career, I am signing off. But I know that I am a better person because of the transitions I have gone through in the past four years, and I’m a little bit less scared of the one I’m walking into now. Grifter’s Bone will never die; it is just going to look different now.
