By Bailey Wimberly
Editor-in-Chief
Editorial
Going into my junior year of college, I have been through many ups and downs. I have become involved in multiple organizations, even some in leadership positions. I was re-selected as the Editor-in-Chief of The Johnsonian for the 2026-2027 school year after my first semester with the title. Even with all of these accomplishments and achievements, I still cannot put my tongue on what I am missing.
Within these last three years, I have been given the opportunity to work for The Johnsonian. While being part of this organization, I have always loved the process of journalism. In my freshman year, I was able to learn about journalism from behind the scenes with the interviews, photography, layouts, copy editing, and story writing from a first person perspective. In my time as editor-in-chief, I have grown fond of the administrative process of overseeing student journalism at Winthrop and I continue to learn new things everyday.
In these years, I have experienced a lot of negativity, jealousy, and hatred. These experiences have come from many different sources, but nothing has come from a singular occasion. I have never understood some of these experiences. Many of them felt unfair, uncomfortable, or even unnecessary at times. As I continue going through my college years, I cannot put my tongue on this negativity and the repeated cycle that it follows. Sometimes, it feels like a lingering shadow that follows people everywhere and that they are unable to see it or even recognize its presence. For myself, I have noticed the shadow and have worked my hardest to sway clear of it. I believe I have done a better job at that as I grew older, but why does that cloud linger, that dark shadowy cloud? I believe that it is caused by the hatred that many people hold deep down within themselves that they project onto others because they are not sure how to deal with it themselves. As someone who has experienced this, I want people to know that they are not alone and that hatred can be turned into love to empower others around them instead of tearing them down.
With this opportunity to speak to the student body about my goals for The Johnsonian, the main thing I want to focus on this year is promoting positivity and love over hatred. Last semester, I was able to write about Bad Bunny’s halftime performance and highlighted his message, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” From that day forward, after watching his halftime show, I began to live by that motto. I want people to feel loved and accepted instead of judged or shut down. Why do we have to put others down for us, as individuals, to feel better about ourselves? My goal with The Johnsonian is for everyone to feel uplifted and accepted. I want people to pick up the newspaper and feel excited to read about what we have next! I want to radiate positivity and beautiful energy from this outlet just like I am able to do in so many other things in my life.
I want to leave you all with this, listen to Bad Bunny’s message in the beautiful way he intended. Not only is it a message that unites people from across the world, but it shows how we can all come together. I want to emphasize this message while I am here at Winthrop University and encourage everyone to lean on each other, unite together, and love each other, no matter your differences.
For the newly arrived class of 2030, this university is full of amazing people and opportunities. Find those opportunities and the people you want to be with. Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone because someone will be there with a pool noodle and a life jacket to catch you with a smile on their face.
To all Winthrop students, welcome to Winthrop and thank you for supporting The Johnsonian and myself! Cheers to a new school year and let’s all change for the better.
