Trust the detour – the Hofstra chronicle

The Hofstra Chronicle will always hold a special place in my heart.

If there is a lesson that my time at Hofstra University taught me, it is that change is not always a setback – it is often a redirection. The plans we make for ourselves can change, but they often lead us to people, passions and objectives that we have always been supposed to discover. Growth rarely follows a right path, and in the past four years, I learned that each unexpected tour has helped to get closer to where I have to be.

When I arrived in Hofstra as an adult in first year physics, I continued what had long been my high school dream. I was really excited by the subject and I worked tirelessly to prepare myself. But despite my academic achievements, self -doubt has slipped. I started to wonder if I really belonged and I allowed the doubts of others to blur my own confidence. In the end, I abandoned this dream – not because I stopped worrying, but because I could no longer see a path to go. At the time, I did not know which direction to turn. But slowly and almost unexpectedly, I found myself in a new field – or, rather, I should say, fields – those of which I am proud to be part of today.

In the midst of all this uncertainty, one thing has remained constant: my admiration for journalism. Even if I tried to understand what came afterwards, I could not ignore the attraction of the narration. The Hofstra Chronicle has become this creative anchor. I am deeply grateful to the former editors in chief Ahjané Forbes, Megan Naftali and Madeline Armstrong to have welcomed me in the editorial room. Their mentorship, their patience and their confidence gave me space to grow as a writer and allowed me to keep journalism in my life in a way that I had not thought possible.

Finally, I made the decision to move my major towards education, a decision founded not only in reflection, but also in inspiration of my biggest supporter: my mother. His passion for teaching and learning has always shaped me, and his encouragement gave me the courage to start again. This change has opened up new doors, and one of the most transformatives was the world of university research.

Thanks to Dr. Tomeka Mr. Robinson and Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College, I was presented at the Center for “Race”, the culture and social justice where I met Dr. Veronica Lipcencot and Dr. Jonathan Lightfoot. Their advice offered me the rare chance of significantly contributing to the research process and exploring questions that have helped many communities. Through them, I met Laura Godfrey, Dr. Amy Lee and a number of students graduated in clinical psychology who welcomed me with open arms. Their ideas have helped me imagine a future that has bet the education with psychology and showed me the value of research which is collaborative, culturally sensitive and impactful.

The development psychology courses that I followed – especially with Dr. Brian Cox. Even during the students’ teaching, Cox made sure that I could remain engaged, often inviting myself to connect my experiences in class to our course discussions. These courses reshaped the way I understand learning and teaching.

Throughout all these changes, the Chronicle remained a stable part of my experience. I strongly looked into my colleagues publishers – Lily Spinda, Giovanni Salsa, Camryn Bowden, Julia Capitelli and Gabe Prevots – during the nights of layout and the deadlines. Whether through jokes, stories or silent solidarity, Lily, Gio and Camryn made these long nights memorable. Julia, your consistency and your leadership have founded the news section this year, and Gabe, your writing and your dedication already show the strength of your voice. I am convinced that you will both continue to direct with integrity and passion.

With hindsight, I could never have predicted this exact path, but I am grateful for each pivot, each detour and each mentor which helped to guide the path. I can still determine the details of what comes next, but I know that I will continue to fill my passions for education, psychology and reports on the events and the impactful problems that shape our communities. Even when the plan changes, the goal remains.

Sometimes the detour is not a distraction; This is the route you needed from the start.