“What does not kill me makes me stronger.” These words by Nietzsche resonated with me throughout my time at CBT. In the spring semester of my freshman year in 2024, I impulsively applied to the newspaper office simply because I wanted a more meaningful and unique college experience. I expected it to be a welcoming and relaxed environment, but reality was completely different. The endless corrections, feedback, and revisions I faced made me feel much more overwhelmed than I had expected.

  Unlike the English newspapers I had written in high school, university journalism demanded much more precision and responsibility. Every sentence required evidence and context, and even a single expression carried weight. As a freshman who had just graduated from high school, I often thought to myself after receiving strict feedback, “I will never last long here.” Yet somehow, before I knew it, I had spent two full years at the newspaper office—becoming the editor-in-chief myself.

  Looking back, my time at CBT was filled with constant anxiety and pressure. There were days when I rushed to write a proposal right before a planning meeting, and times when I struggled to come up with article topics without guidance from senior reporters. Deadlines and interviews often overwhelmed me. At first, I seriously considered quitting. Ironically, however, the feedback and advice I received from my professors and senior editors became the very force that pushed me forward. Their words were harsh at times, but they were also sincere, and I desperately wanted to grow through them.

  As time passed, the number of corrections gradually decreased, and I began discovering topics I genuinely wanted to write about. Visiting different places, interviewing people, and listening to stories I would never have heard otherwise became one of the most meaningful parts of my life as a reporter.

  Soon after my time as a rookie reporter, I became the vice editor-in-chief, and later, unexpectedly, the editor-in-chief. Although I may not have been as charismatic or determined as my predecessors, I truly wanted to lead the newspaper in a positive direction together with the other reporters. At the same time, the responsibility of leading others constantly made me reflect on whether I was contributing enough for the team.

  After two years, I became someone who could read more carefully, analyze more deeply, and understand English sentence structures more quickly than before. Through every issue we published, I developed not only the ability to recognize good writing but also responsibility toward people and the organization.

  Now, as I conclude my journey as a reporter, I feel both relieved and deeply nostalgic. Even after leaving CBT, I will continue to read, write, question, and analyze. I will carry and remember the attitudes and lessons I learned here throughout my life.

  CBT, which witnessed my slow but steady growth, will always remain one of the places that shaped me the most. Finally, to everyone who shared this journey with me, I would like to express my sincere gratitude.