To Sage, from Mateo
I joined the Jacket because I didn’t have to work with anyone. As most of you know, group projects can be… frustrating. I’m a writer, and I want to shape my own story, without a rubric or assignment sheet.
And then, this year, I became a section editor. With you Sage, my co-editor. I was used to creating and expanding ideas on my own. If I liked an idea, I liked it. But this past year has taught me to consider which ideas to fight for and which to let go. When we brainstormed together you’d take the beginnings of my thought and bring it another direction. I also found myself trying to go deeper: many ideas are just words or themes, like “dance.” Bouncing ideas between us often created full-fledged articles.
At times, our working relationship was chaotic; our brainstorming doc is an absolute mess, and we talk when we should be writing. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
To Mateo, from Sage
When I joined the Jacket, I didn’t talk to anyone besides the people I interviewed. For two years, I put my head down and worked solitarily and contently. It took me applying to be an editor- and getting rejected- to start seeing the Jacket as a community. Many of the others around me worked hard, unified by a love for journalism.
And then, this year, I became a section editor. With you, my co-editor. I was pleasantly surprised by our similarities. Our collaboration taught me about teams, people, and myself.
-Sage
To Berkeley High, from Mateo and Sage
Our working relationship revolved around responsibility. We each went through personal issues this year, and relying on one another made publishing Features possible. We wouldn’t have been able to power through our chaotic workflow without being absolutely honest with one another. We were able to get working quickly that we were both capable, fallible, pragmatic, and committed; from there we reached a point where beating around the bush wasn’t necessary. - we could just say “I can’t do this” or “this is not working” and take it from there.
Initially we worked closely together, each reading over everything the other was doing. As we got to know each other more, we learned that truly great teamwork involves independence. We gained the ability to work alongside each other, in lockstep without being in unison, each working with the perfect confidence in their counterpart. We knew that the other would be doing their hardest to make each issue beautiful.