A Love Letter to Writing

Claire Watson (Features Editor)

Hey guys! A bit of a bittersweet one, as this will be my last editorial of the year. It’s been an absolute pleasure to spend another year writing on the Express, working with such an incredible team. I’ve so many fond memories of goofing around in the newsroom, running around campus like vampires, and chatting to so many wonderful people; from artists and writers to our infamous UCC Confessions. 

I really want to thank the Express and its delightful readers for allowing me the opportunity to write so frequently and passionately. Writing has always been an important part of my life, but it wasn’t until I made it onto the team last year that I really began to trust my abilities. 

I'm quite a timid person, and social anxiety has been something I’ve struggled with for as long as I can remember. This year I wanted to climb outside of my comfort zone and start interviewing people. Finding random people and shooting them that email has been nothing short of terrifying for me. But getting to connect with strangers and hear their different stories and experiences, has been simply magical. There’s nothing that excites me more than listening to others rant about their passions, and widening my scope of the world.  

I think that’s why I’ve loved every moment of the Express. While I’m an editor, I’m a reader too. I love flicking through those pages (both paper and digital) and seeing what all my friends have written about this issue. It’s wonderful to watch everyone grow as writers. Everyone brings something different to the paper, and everyone is brilliantly creative. 

Many thanks to the team, our readers and Chloe who if it wasn’t for her encouraging me to apply back in 2021, I would’ve missed such a wonderful experience.