SAN JOSE, Costa Rica “”mdash; As I sit at my desk at The Tico
Times, an English-language weekly in Costa Rica, I realize how
lucky I was to work at the Daily Bruin.
I am lucky because working at The Bruin helped me get here, and
because it gave me the skills to make the most of the
experience.
And though I enjoy working as a journalist in Latin America,
being a part of this small weekly also reminds me that The Bruin is
unique.
At The Tico Times, the staff numbers about 50. We work on
Microsoft Word and use bound paper archives. We have two editors,
and reporters help with proofing.
When our paper comes out on Fridays, I often think proudly about
the daily deadlines we made at The Bruin and the nationally
recognized quality of our product.
I think about the lessons I learned and the wonderful, talented
people I worked with in News and Copy (and the friends I
procrastinated with in Photo, Design, Sports, Viewpoint and
A&E).
With the help of outstanding advisers including Amy Emmert, T.J.
Sullivan, Sam Gowen, John Mitchell and Abigail Goldman; every one
of my editors, each of whom taught me something new; and each one
of you who checked my copy or bounced my ideas, I feel that I had a
first-class journalistic education.
On my third of three internships I secured with the help of my
Daily Bruin experience, I feel prepared and excited to be entering
the world of professional journalism.
Less than two months after leaving UCLA for good, I already miss
our windowless dungeon.
Looking back from Central America, I can see that the stale air
was irrelevant: 118 Kerckhoff Hall brims with vibrant idealism,
professionalism and a camaraderie that made me love my time at
UCLA.
If you’re just a sentimental fool like Foxman, e-mail
him at
adam.foxman@gmail.com.