Rachel Cribbs
Editor in Chief
Four semesters ago when I came to Bakersfield College, fresh out of Bakersfield High School, I didn’t plan to work on The Renegade Rip. I had already completed four years of journalism on the Blue and White and was going to focus on my English major. However, that all changed when Editor in Chief Bryan Swaim, also from BHS, asked advisor Kathy Freeman to ask me to work for The Rip.
I am so thankful that I joined the staff of the newspaper. These last two years have been some of the most rewarding and fulfilling of my life. I joined the staff as Opinion Editor and immediately discovered the strong friendships and work ethic that holds this staff together.
Each semester provided its own set of challenges, but also an unique and talented staff of writers, photographers and graphic artists. I love and respect everyone I have worked with on the paper. I have made new friends and kept quite a few old ones who have joined the staff. In fact, we had three years of Blue and White staffers represented at one point on The Rip. Go Mrs. Bell.
We have accomplished so much this year, I hardly know what to say. We have had the good fortune to run color pictures every issue, making our outstanding photographers extremely happy. We have had our Website, www.therip.com, up all semester. We have won General Excellence for our newspaper and Website. Also, we have won numerous personal awards. I know I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without my wonderful and talented staff.
I must give specific thanks to my long-suffering editors. Thank you for your hard work, your kind smiles and your support. All of you have stood by me during my drama as well as my “pig tail days.” You have (for the most part) patiently listened to me when I get on my soapbox and have been my strength. I thank you and love each of you.
I give tremendous thanks to all of my teachers here at BC for understanding this 24 hour a day gig called Editor in Chief. I respect you and thank you for everything you have done for me.
I must give special recognition to one person who does so much for this newspaper and who I love dearly. Kathy Freeman is one of the greatest journalists I have ever known. I love you so much and honor you. You have been my rock for two years and my friend. You keep me grounded and are never afraid to share your opinion. I will never be able to repay what you have done for me. I thank you.
Now as I end my year as Editor in Chief I cannot help but feel sad that the crazy late nights of production, the headaches of forcing deadlines and the joy of taking endless pictures of my staff will be over.
However, I am looking forward to what the future holds. I will always love this newspaper and I wish every future staff luck. I also wish the next Editor in Chief luck, you are really going to need it. The best advice I can give is, this job sounds so much better on paper when you’re applying for it. But, it will be the hardest, most harrowing and wonderful experience of your life.