Coming into the University, the steps I had to take to feel successful as a pre-commerce major seemed to be laid out for me already. I quickly realized that there was a conventional path that everyone followed. People told me I needed to join X or Y club to improve my chances of getting accepted into my major. As such, I joined a few popular business organizations and began to craft the “ideal” resume.
The college newspaper was nowhere on my radar, and I had no previous experience with journalism. However, I realized that following the exact same path as everyone else would not be as fulfilling as exploring something different. The idea of doing what was expected, rather than what genuinely interested me, made the process feel transactional. Through The Cavalier Daily, I saw an opportunity to take on something unfamiliar and challenge myself by stepping into a world I knew nothing about.
I first heard about The Cavalier Daily through my first-year dorm’s Senior Resident, who had a copy of the print edition on his kitchen table during our hall’s orientation. He informed me that the paper was the largest student organization on Grounds with over 300 members. He had also heard that they ran print nights until two or three in the morning just to consistently publish the news for this community. Naturally, I was immediately curious about the operations and business behind how the paper functioned and achieved such ambitious outcomes.
To align with my interest in business, I chose to join the finance desk. I saw it as a bridge between the skill sets that were familiar to me and a completely new environment. After joining, I quickly realized how little knowledge I had about how a newspaper operates. It seemed like it would be an uphill battle to learn the ins-and-outs of the paper’s budget, insurance, taxes and more. However, I was excited by the challenge and initially figured it would be a great way to bolster my finance skill set.
Each week, I learned a bit more about how The Cavalier Daily does what it does. At first, I saw my role narrowly — the goal was to strengthen my skills and stay focused on building expertise in the area of finance. Through that process of learning the hard skills, I grew to appreciate the importance of providing news that inspires thoughtful conversation around Charlottesville. I saw how each ad sale or financial decision, no matter how small or insignificant it seemed at the time, directly influenced the literary team’s ability to deliver meaningful journalism.
I remember spending weeks on a grant application for new computers for our office space. We outlined the necessity for the upgrades and the significant impact it would have on the staff, and we ultimately were awarded the money. Then, every time I was in the office, I saw firsthand the difference it made in our design team’s ability to create covers or visuals that ended up in the hands of my classmates and professors. I quickly learned how to see the bigger picture.
Beyond the practical importance of the paper, the people within The Cavalier Daily have amazed me with how passionate and welcoming they are. As Chief Financial Officer, I worked more closely with all desks and leaders within the organization. Beyond just managing finances, I met weekly with the Managing Board to decide on larger initiatives and how they would impact the paper as a whole. Doing my work in the office allowed me to have casual conversations with the literary team, hearing what challenges they were facing and how we could improve the paper at the managing board level.
Hearing Naima and Nate have lengthy debates about the inclusion of the crossword in each print edition showed me how deeply people care about the small details that ultimately shape the larger outcome of the newspaper. Seeing Grace work tirelessly to get out a news article on time or Honor finalize the newsletter at 4 a.m. showed me a level of commitment I’ve never seen in any other student organizations. Even though I did not have a direct role in the literary side of the paper, people still valued my judgment and contributions nonetheless. By the end of my term, I could have meaningful discussions with News editors about the literary future of this paper and how our finances could impact it. In the process, I created lifelong friendships with some of the most hardworking, passionate and genuine people I have met at the University.
There were also many unique challenges throughout my time on the paper that taught me a lot about critical decision making and leaning on others for support. I remember feeling overwhelmed opening up the first annual non-profit tax form, not knowing at all where to begin. Filled with panic, I emailed Stuart Jones, a CD alum who volunteers his time as a board member to The Cavalier Daily. Anytime, day or night, he was always willing to answer my endless questions with patience. The eagerness of alumni to donate their time to helping this organization succeed says a lot about the impact it has on people.
The Cavalier Daily encouraged me to take risks I normally would not have. Besides the risk of joining something brand new alone, making crucial financial decisions in an unfamiliar environment challenged me to learn a large amount very quickly. With such a limited background in journalism, I was surprised how quickly I became invested in the success of the paper. It is an incredible community filled with welcoming people whom I am glad to call close friends. I am grateful my first-year self took a chance on The Cavalier Daily. No matter if you are interested in news stories, photography or even doing our taxes, there is a place for you in The Cavalier Daily.
Charlie Healy was the Chief Financial Officer for the 134th and 135th terms and Finance Manager for the 133rd Term of The Cavalier Daily.
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