Some people are talented athletes; others, gifted artists. I, on the other hand, pride myself on my editing skills. It’s probably not what my mom had in mind when she had me take lessons in everything from ice-skating to ballet to cross-stitch, but you have to make the most of what you’ve got.
I’m not sure exactly when my love affair with words first started, but I know it’s pretty serious. My mom always reminds me that I didn’t begin talking until really late (I think I had them pretty worried) and practically waited until I could speak in full sentences. I’m sure I was taking my time until I found just the right words.
At UCLA, I translated this love of words into an English degree and a four-year stint as a copy editor at the Daily Bruin. I, along with a desk of talented, dedicated copy editors, work behind the scenes to guard against the abuse of words. We hunt out dangling modifiers, run-on sentences, comma splices and all other affronts to the English language with very little thanks. But we don’t need bylines or our pictures in the paper to know we’re performing an invaluable service.
Whatever your talent or passion, there is an outlet for you at UCLA to put it to use. We can’t all play in Pauley Pavilion or the Rose Bowl, but there are plenty of other meaningful ways to contribute to this university. If there’s a place for me to pontificate about the proper use of “that” (my love of words is nondiscriminatory) and the difference between “forego” and “forgo” or “further” and “farther,” then there’s definitely a place that could benefit from whatever it is that you can bring to the table.
I may not have become the Olympic figure skater my mom was hoping for, but correcting writers when they use “entitled” instead of “titled” is all the glory I need to make the long hours in Kerckhoff Hall worthwhile.
Expose your hidden talents. Someone might be looking for an expert in ant-farm building.
Levitt was the 2006-2007 Copy chief. If you know that a book is “titled” something while someone is “entitled” to something, apply to be a Daily Bruin copy editor at the beginning of fall quarter.