Fall — 2005

Rachel Hadlock-Piltz

Journalism

“Since coming to SMC, I’m a lot more outgoing in terms of mingling with others. I’m much more confident in myself and about the decisions I’ve made.”

She was wearing her ‘combat journalist’ hat in the Corsair offices. And thereby hangs a tale. “It was just this old hat that my dad had, and he was going to throw it out. But I said, ‘You can’t do that! This is a genuine reporter’s hat!’ ” recalls Rachel Hadlock-Piltz. “It’s almost like the ‘sorting hat’ in the Harry Potter stories.” But when asked if that meant she couldn’t tell a lie when she was wearing the hat, she would answer only, “Hmmm…” But Rachel is indeed a truthteller, and she’s found the ideal venue to do just that at SMC.

“My major is actually English, and not Journalism. But when I started working at the Corsair, it taught me loads of editing skills and let me practice my writing and communication on a daily basis. I’d been pretty noncommunicative in high school,” Rachel admits. “I was just a very shy kid. But I think I’ve really gotten to know a great group of people on campus. And that’s very important, because it’s the social groups that give you that motivation you need to keep coming back to school every day.” But Rachel also knows that when those Corsair presses roll and those banner headlines hit the front page, you really can’t phone in with a ‘bad hair day.’ “People are really relying on you when you’re with a newspaper,” she says. “Sure, it’s great if you’re self-reliant. But when you know you have to come through for other people, it tends to make you much more responsible.”

Rachel states, “To succeed at SMC, you should find something you’re absolutely interested in and pursue it with passion. Especially if it’s in a group where you can socialize with other people. Because if you’re only in it for yourself,” she adds, “you won’t get the feedback, you don’t get the same intense experience, and you don’t get the camaraderie.”

Back