Letter from the editor: Another year, another print

By Christopher Dacanay
Editor-in-Chief

I’ve been working for this newspaper for about three full years now. I’ve seen employees come and go. Some things change, and some things stay the same as they’ve always been.

That’s life, I guess. Time keeps on slipping, the Steve Miller Band reminds us. No one stays at this university forever, so with a new year comes a whole new generation of students.

It is a bit surreal to witness new faces in the crowds marching up to Egan Hall morning. Equally surreal is the dispiriting absence of so many familiar faces that I’ve come to recognize over my time here.

“Oh, that one guy graduated,” I say to myself as I work in the Mac lab. “I’ll miss seeing that long-haired lab assistant dude. Shine on, you crazy diamond.”

With the dawn of a new year comes the simultaneous dawn of a new cycle for the Troubadour. Just like the campus is speckled with new faces, so is the Troub. We’ve got an almost entirely new lineup of editors, which is great considering they’ll bring a breath of fresh air to our humble newspaper.

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Christopher Dacanay, though I go by Chris. Feel free to approach me during the day to say hello. Don’t let the dreads intimidate you. I’m a meager 5 feet and three inches tall, so I’m far from unapproachable.

I’m somewhat of a new face, in light of this being my first semester as editor-in-chief of the newspaper. My three years of studying journalism at the university have, hopefully, trained me for this time as editor-in-chief.

I ask you all to please bear with me as we get things up and running here at the newspaper. My unofficial motto for the Troub and for everything else in my life is “Hey, we’ll figure it out together.”

There are a lot of things I could be worried about right now. It’s my senior year and commitments are seemingly piling up; however, I was reminded while writing this letter that people are what’s most important.

What is the use of doing anything if we are not being led and leading others toward Christ through it? I need to ask myself that question a lot. It’s second nature for me to pile things onto myself, convinced that I can win salvation or something.

When I talk to someone, I realize what really matters. There’s a person right in front of me who God created. That is amazing. Unfortunately, it takes much effort to tear myself away from my work in order to encounter that person in front of me.

Some may call me irresponsible. Some may call me overly responsible. I’d say it’s a little bit of both. I struggle with managing my time and commitments, and sometimes I prioritize work over others or over my mental health.

Maybe some of you can relate to what I’m saying. I’m sure there are plenty of students out there who call themselves, or who have been called, workaholics.

Someone told me the other day that I, Chris, cannot multiply loaves. That goes for all of us here on this campus and on this Earth. No matter how hard I try, I can’t turn water into wine.

If I ever want to see fruit in my life, it’s going to take the work of God and Him alone. It’s not my own action that brings this about — it is my mere cooperation with what God is already doing.

God is trying to shake me from my work-induced daze. I can’t do everything on my own, and I should not expect to be able to. Thankfully, there are people who can help with that.

I’m blessed to have an amazing team of editors, writers and photographers with me this year on the Troubadour staff. They’ve been more helpful to me than they probably even realize, and for that, I am so grateful.

Not to mention, I have the greatest brothers that a guy could ask for, the Fishers of Men. They’re all passionate and willing to help, so I don’t have to bear everything on my own shoulders.

Even deeper than that, I have my family at home. They’re praying for me, I know, and they will always be on their way to help me should I ever need it.

So, yes, we will figure it out together. These lessons are just as much for me as they are for you, whoever you are, grappling with your own hardships.

No matter what is going on in your life, don’t be afraid to lean on your friends. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to lean on Christ entirely. He’s got something in mind for you and me, so let’s just ride the lazy river of grace.

Here’s to another year — here’s to another print.