Hello, Virginia Statesman readers! First of all, I would like to thank you for reading and supporting the Statesman. Our team of writers and photographers along with our advisor, Professor Waugaman, put their all into every issue, and it warms my heart to know that there are people reading & enjoying the hard work we are putting in. I have served as executive editor of The Statesman since December 2024, and I have learned so much from the team and the VSU community during both my time at The Statesman and at Virginia State University.

Before I joined The Statesman, I stayed in my own bubble and didn’t really feel like I belonged anywhere. Being a part of The Statesman has brought me out of my shell & given me back my love for writing. I have loved every moment I’ve spent getting to meet & interview so many interesting people and learning the inner workings of a newspaper, all while navigating college and growing as a person, and making so many new friends along the way. I will be graduating this year and as sad as I am to be leaving VSU and my Statesman family, I will continue to cherish the memories and experiences I have had during my time here.

I have so much gratitude and appreciation for everyone on the Statesman team and I have 100% faith that the team will continue to thrive in my absence.

Signing out,

Ciani Sparrow

Executive Editor 2024-2026

As the semester is coming to an end, my time here at Virginia State University and The Virginia Statesman is also coming to an end.

Writing for The Virginia Statesman will be one of my greatest accomplishments that I have achieved here at VSU. It has not only helped me to grow as a journalist, but the Statesman has also helped me to grow as a person.

One way the Statesman has helped me to grow as a journalist and a person was by helping me to come out of my shell. For as long as I can remember, I have always been a pretty quiet and shy person. I would rarely come out of my shell to talk to people.

But when I came to The Virginia Statesman, the other members helped me to eventually come out of my shell and start being more talkative. It wasn’t a quick and immediate transformation, it happened slowly throughout my four years with the Statesman.

It started with covering stories and writing them which helped to give me confidence. Another thing that helped was going out and interviewing people for stories. It gently pushed me to come out of my shell and learn how to interview people to get all of the information that I needed for my stories.

Another thing that the Statesman has done for me is that writing for the paper has helped my love for journalism grow so much more throughout the past four years. When I first came to write for the Statesman, I liked being a journalist, but I didn’t have as great an appreciation for it as I do now.

I came to understand and view journalism as a profession that I love and is a part of me. I cannot imagine my life without journalism.

As I come to the end of my time with the Statesman, even though it makes me sad that time is ending. I’m very glad I got to write for the Statesman and I want to thank all of the other members current and past for helping me to become a better person and journalist.

Sincerely,

Helaina Ballou

News Editor 2023-2026