Goals are worth making

This is my last newspaper at Utah State.

I’ve had goals of creating content worthy of winning national and regional awards, winning over the respect of our critics, trying to increase professionalism and increasing the pride of those who work for our organization.

Last week I was helping my boyfriend study for his evolution final, and we talked about how there are no “Darwinian demons,” which basically refers to perfect organisms with every advantageous trait. They can’t exist because everything comes with trade-offs. For example, a fish can either be a sprinter or a have a high endurance for distance. If it’s large, it can’t hide as easily from predators. The list goes on and on.

It’s the end of my undergraduate career, and I’m not a Darwinian demon. I’ve experienced a lot of trade-offs. I’m a better writer than I am a public speaker. I’m hesitant to make up my mind, which sometimes causes me to miss out on opportunities that could enrich my life.

I can’t change the past, and dwelling too much on something you can’t change will bring you misery. I’ve tried to make up for my losses, and now it’s time to move on.

Even though I make mistakes, I’m still fit to succeed in this world, and so is this student-run newspaper. And so are those who read this column.

We often feel inadequate and focus in on the things we’re not good at, but just because we’re not perfect, it doesn’t mean we’re bad at what we do. Life is about learning.

Our newspaper and the individuals who contribute to it have already won multiple regional awards for our work this year, are finalists to win more and have a really good chance at becoming a Pacemaker, the top national award for newspapers. That’s something to be proud of.

We’ve done significantly more good than harm, and I feel confident with that.

As a soon-to-be graduate of USU, my advice to you is to let go of the things you can’t control, and be proud of who you are.

Make goals that you yourself really want to accomplish in your next 10 years of life. Go somewhere you can think clearly and write them down.

My goals are far-reaching and random. Some of them have nothing to do with my major. Some of them I’ll try and change my mind about. But what matters is that I’m trying.

— Mariah Noble is the editor-in-chief of The Utah Statesman. She graduates in a little more than a week and has absolutely loved working with her staff this year. Contact her at m.noble@aggiemail.usu.edu.