Amelia Nored | If there’s a beginning, there must be an end!

All 100+ times I’ve been asked what my favorite part about MMG is, I’ve given the same answer: the people. While it’s becoming a lazy response at this point, it’s the most honest one I have. In my final couple weeks at Cal Poly, I’m adopting extra caution in not taking the people in Building 26 for granted and not forgetting a single lesson my MMG peers and friends have taught me. 

I met Bella Cox, the assistant news editor, on my first day of college. We were waiting outside Phillips Hall for Richard Gearhart’s JOUR 102 (Introduction to Journalism) course, and instead of feeling excited, I was mostly just nervous and a little irritated by the September heat. I took a leap of faith and introduced myself to Bella; I’d maybe complimented her signature sunglasses, or I just made something up because I had decided out of everyone standing around, she’s the one I wanted to talk to. She met me with endless optimism, kindness and dignity. More significantly than providing me with any singular lesson, Bella was my very first friend at Cal Poly.

That same quarter, I sat a couple rows behind Carly Heltzel, Archana Pisupati and Jeremy Garza in JOUR 228 (Media, Self and Society). I don’t think they ever really noticed me, but I fondly watched them become closer friends each class period. I strangely looked up to them, despite us being peers. They were in MMG, and they’d found a community — something I couldn’t relate to just yet, but that I wanted badly. Around that time, I decided to apply for KCPR, which gave me two options: get into the station or transfer colleges. 

Luckily for me, by winter quarter, I’d gotten into KCPR as a DJ. Through the rest of the year, I slowly found the community, purpose and passion I’d been clumsily stumbling towards that first period of college. I became friends with Lulu David in January, who immediately began teaching me how to be authentically myself, to work hard and play hard, and to always say yes. I found mentorship under Zoe Boyd, David Aronson and Cayley O’Brien, who supported me and created opportunities for me since the day they met me. 

I realized if these people I respected so highly believed in me, there must be a reason to believe in myself too. So, I applied for the role of KCPR Programming and Music Director my sophomore year, a position I’ve held since. It’s a job I love, even when it’s hard and when I think I’m doing it terribly. It’s a job that’s taught me to lead better, to stay calm in high-stress situations and to be confident in my voice. 

In my final year, both in my role and at Cal Poly, I find myself in the middle of a community that I’d give up my life for any day of the week. I reflect on my time spent with Kat Orozco, who came into her own role as content director at the same time as me; she always found a way to radiate sweetness and offer words of wisdom when I needed them most. I already miss Radio Party! hosts Jeremy Okmin and Felix Broach. Felix constantly shows the world what it looks like to pursue your dreams ferociously, and Jeremy continues to teach me how to be honest and how to believe in things working out for the better. I extend extra gratitude to fellow KCPR managers Ben Shane, Fiona Hastings, Linnaea Marks and Marley Logan. To Marley, I thank you for egging on my ambitions, being my creative partner and embodying courage. 

I admit I don’t always have this same courage; I am scared to leave college and to leave behind KCPR. I’m scared of everything ending and I’m scared of beginning again. But if there’s only one thing the people in MMG have all left me with, it’s hope. I believe in the new world of journalism, knowing my brilliant peers will be in newsrooms, television studios and radio stations. I believe I can find community and learn new lessons all over again. I believe in the later generations of KCPR and MMG to continue striving for greatness. And I believe in next directions for us all. I see our futures and they’re bright.