I’ll never forget how during move-in day my first year, my dad picked up a copy of The Cavalier Daily and handed it to me. As I skimmed through the print pages with him, an article about masking and vaccination requirements for students caught my eye. I was impressed by the breadth and scope of the paper, and promised myself I would look for The Cavalier Daily’s booth at the activities fair in the coming days. Four years later, I’m happy to report that my time at The Cavalier Daily has been a cornerstone of my University experience.
I’ve worn lots of hats around the office over the past four years — and hugged many squishmellows for emotional support at 1 a.m. on print nights. Yes Mom, they really did go that late, but don’t worry, I always got home safe. The rhythms of the Cavalier Daily became second nature, and the rush of picking up a print copy and seeing my byline never got old.
During my first year, I spent my time as a copy staffer and an objective writer for the now defunct “abCD” magazine, which provided in-depth coverage of complex news topics since 2017. Over summer break, I learned that abCD was going to be disbanded, so I switched to writing features for the life desk under the incomparable editor pair, Cecy Juarez and Mario Rosales. I never expected how this would change my trajectory at The Cavalier Daily for the next three years.
Flash forward to January 2023, the start of the 133rd term. I was so relieved that I had finally found my stride at The Cavalier Daily — I had completed a first successful run as a features writer, with multiple pieces in print and I had been selected to be the new senior associate editor of the life desk. Not one week into the spring semester, I received an urgent text from Cecy: “I need you to be my co-editor.” Me? Maybe Cecy had the wrong number. She probably meant to text someone else.
Apparently, no one had run for life co-editor alongside Cecy in December. I had just started as senior associate, planning to run for life editor in the next round of elections. But the opportunity was right in front of me, and I wouldn’t have to wait for another year. Say yes, a little voice inside of me said. So I did.
I like to describe this experience as my personal intensive journalism boot camp. I learned how to lead engaging and effective meetings, to teach the principles of journalism to new writers, manage a team of 20+ writers across five different subsections and, most importantly, how to edit an article constructively without re-writing it myself. I would say my crowning achievement was pitching and editing the profile on Ms. Kathy, which went into print — we have an autographed copy in the office — stayed on top stories for days, garnering over 2,000 impressions on Instagram.
Throughout my time on the Life Desk, I’ve wondered what breathes life into this University, how we can tell stories that showcase a multitude of experiences and foster connection with our readers. I’ve covered events such as Days on the Lawn, Charlottesville Restaurant Week and the Fourth Year 5K in the wake of the Nov. 2022 shooting. Some of my favorite pieces include a profile on Sam Ezersky who is one of the New York Times puzzles editors, capturing student reactions to the affirmative action ban, investigating nighttime safety on Grounds, a guide to the Ix Art Park farmer’s market, and a feature on the popular Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest.
Beyond editing articles every day and attending many, many meetings, I also gained so many essential “life” skills — and I am a better person because of it. Never underestimate the power of interpersonal communication, patience and asking the right questions. The beauty of covering a topic as vast as “life” taught me that stories are all around us, only if we look in the right places, ask the right questions and truly listen to what people have to say — a lesson I’ll take with me long after I leave Grounds.
Looking back, I would have never expected to win the Junior Board member of the year award, that I would be awarded a Cavalier Daily Alumni Scholarship to fund my journalism internship in Paris, France in the summer of 2023, or that Cecy and I would be invited to speak to a journalism class at John Carroll University over Zoom about how we run the life desk. However, all of that would mean nothing if it wasn’t for the stories I produced and the people I worked with, week after week.
First, to all the writers, JB and MB members that I’ve worked with for the past four years, you’ve all taught me that writing is truly best practiced in community, and for that, I’m forever grateful. To Vani Agarwal, my very first editor at “abCD” magazine who trusted me to research and write a longform investigative feature as a first-year, you inspired me to never give up in the quest for truth.
Finally, to Cecy Juarez, my incredible co-editor on the life desk, hilarious columnist, mentor and friend — your energy is a light to this world, you are the sun and all her stars. I’ll never forget our time on 134 together. You made this challenging, stressful and rewarding job worth it ten times over.
Miriella Jiffar was a Life Editor for the 134th term of The Cavalier Daily, a feature writer during the 133rd, 135th and 136th terms, a copy staffer and a staff writer for “abCD” magazine during the 132nd term.
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