I’ve never been really good at the whole goodbye thing. I have developed a love recently, here at Muhlenberg, for the Irish goodbye—a swift and anonymous exit, followed by a “where did you go?” text the next morning. But typically, I am known for a good old-fashioned Jewish goodbye. For those that may not know, a Jewish goodbye is a goodbye that starts approximately 30 minutes before you actually plan to leave so you can say individual goodbyes to people who probably could deal with a wave as you walk out the door. This is my Jewish goodbye.
My start at The Weekly is one that many people don’t know about because it was anonymous. My freshman year (and current) roommate, Copy Editor Brianna Kovit, and I had an article written about an event that happened to us and though I appreciated the art of journalism at the time, this instance did not spark something in me. I started writing for an online publication called HerCampus freshman year that died during the pandemic. I wrote about my opinions and things that put me front and center of my writing because they always say, “write what you know,” and I know myself pretty well. Since I stopped writing my sophomore year, I realized that I really missed having something that I could show people that I cared about and put work into every week or so. I started joking that I should start an advice column in The Weekly even though I had never been involved in The Weekly. My amazing friend, Editor-in-Chief Cydney Wilson, and my lovely editor, Mustafa Hall, thought the idea was cute and took a chance on me, Paige’s Page—(not at all) certified advice giver.
Last year was the year of “the bit.” I decided to do a lot of things “for the bit” because it made me feel like I had a purpose beyond that of my pre-existing commitments. I decided that once my time in leadership positions was ending, I wanted to have something to soften the blow of being a nobody with no jobs (a person that had time on her hands). My involvement with The Weekly was born due to this phenomenon and so was Paige’s Page Live. As a child, I loved to perform—not to the extent of a lot of Muhlenberg students—but I did the school musical for a few years, and I sang in a few talent shows. Since being here, I did a couple of open mics, I was in a Red Door show (which I slayed by the way), and of course, my very own Paige’s Page Live. The idea of doing this event did actually terrify me though. Even though I have performed and I am not afraid of public speaking, Paige’s Page is a lot more vulnerable than I thought it to be before I did this event. I was really anxious that people would think I was bad and not funny. I was worried about not being able to hide behind my little Canva logo and confident sounding words—usually located on page 8. I was proven wrong, which I usually am about things like this. I am so proud of what that, and Paige’s Page have become.
I am about to really expose myself here, so haters, stop reading. I have used Paige’s Page for good, and I have used Paige’s Page to tell people things that I didn’t want to tell them to their faces so they can think that the way they proceed in a difficult situation (sometimes involving me) is their idea when it is actually mine *teehee*. I also used it to answer questions that I had myself (oops another exposure) and sometimes I submitted questions that I answered. But I think I did that for the same reason a lot of you did. Hearing something from someone else who validates your situation and your feelings is much more effective than telling yourself what you need to do. Paige’s Page was so healing for me. I got to make people laugh and feel emotions and think about their lives every week.
Leaving Muhlenberg was something that, of course, I saw coming. However, endings hit you so fast and so hard. If you had asked the obnoxious girl who walked onto campus in August 2019 what she was doing at this very moment, she would have probably given you a really annoying and not self-aware answer about graduating early and being better than everyone. If you told her what she was going to do during her time here, she wouldn’t have believed you. As a future-oriented and by-the-book kind of person, she probably would have not been happy with the fact that I changed my mind as many times as I did, or be crazy about some of the decisions I have made. But currently, I could not be more proud of myself and the way that I have grown over the last three and a half years. I’m going to miss late night walks on Chew Street, weekend nights ending at the Generals Quarters, gossiping with everyone at Shabbat dinner at Hillel and distracting all of the incredible, smart, funny and talented Weekly staff during production when I don’t have to be there. I’ll miss living within 10 minutes of all of my best friends and seeing everyone I know everywhere, even the people I don’t really want to see.
I don’t entirely know what comes next, and by writing Paige’s Page almost every week for the last year and a half, I’ve learned that that’s okay. I do know that whatever it is, it’s going to be amazing. Thank you for laughing with me and letting me into your lives. It has been both an honor and a pleasure to share my unqualified and correct opinions with you.
Bye Besties <3
Paige
