Samantha Chaffin

Editor-in-Chief

Just less than three years ago, I moved away from my hometown of Payette, Idaho to come to Pocatello and attend Idaho State University.

When I first arrived, I had little to no sense of direction and if I’m being honest, I was probably only here because I didn’t know what else to do.

As someone who doesn’t deal well with change, I spent my first semester at ISU just trying to get my feet on the ground while trying to survive my own worst nightmare: math 1108 (see story on pg. 3 about amazing physics students who could calculate circles around me).

Math was never my strength but thankfully I survived the class after countless hours spent in the math lab studying until I was ready to burst into tears from frustration.

To be honest, I don’t remember much of what I learned in math 1108 but I do remember what came of it: the beginning of a sense of direction.

At the time, I was declared a business major (or a healthcare administration major—I changed my major too many times to keep track). Midway through my math 1108 course, I realized there was no way I would be happy in college or my future if it involved algebra and classes that I had to fight my entire way through. I realized then that I needed to major in something that I enjoyed—maybe even something that I had at least some talent in—rather than trying to obtain a degree that would lead directly to a higher-paying career right out of college.

I walked into “The Bengal” office as a freshman in spring of 2012 after positions had opened up and began working as a staff writer that summer.

Through my experiences at “The Bengal,” I gained more of the “sense of direction” I mentioned before and grew to become more passionate about this publication than I could have ever predicted while gaining a focus for my own future along the way.

After a little more debate, more changing my major, enduring jokes about one day becoming a manager for Starbucks and a trying inner-struggle where I questioned what I could possibly do with a writing-intensive degree, I came to a decision and declared my major as mass communication with an emphasis in journalism and English with an emphasis in professional writing.

Now, two years after entering this office for the first time, I take over as Editor-in-chief with a huge act to follow.

Nicole Blanchard progressed this newspaper in leaps and bounds during her time here and I hope that upon my own graduation, I can say the same.

Although Nicole and I are fundamentally different people in a lot of ways, we share a passion for this newspaper and for writing and I’m confident that “The Bengal” will continue to improve as we make this change and strive to serve the students of Idaho State University.

I encourage students to get involved and reach out and help us improve our publication– let us know what you want to see in your newspaper.

Here’s to a new adventure!