Letter from the editor: Setting our risk horizon

Dear readers,

First, thank you for reading the Lariat. There is a group of 40 individuals who work into the early hours of the morning to tell good stories – to tell your stories – and we greatly appreciate you taking the time to read them.

Last semester made me quite aware of the stresses students face daily. We develop tendencies to allow our perfectionism for school work to take precedence over what we are passionate about. Our relationships become strained – be it due to school work, or maybe fallout from political disagreements. It becomes easy to disconnect from everyone else by plugging into our phones.

I get it — I’m in the middle of searching for a job after I graduate in just a few months, and I’m still wondering if my love for dogs, motorcycles and taking things apart will ever become a real profession. I’d rather block everyone out and focus on myself than take risks.

But then I’m reminded of what the New York Times columnist David Brooks said in a Baylor visit last spring.

He told the crowd that these formative years of college will define those to come. That now is the time we set our own “risk horizon,” or how far we are willing to work for what brings us joy. Maybe that means taking that lower-paying job in a more exciting field or planning that trip you’ve been meaning to take.

You see, in the tumult of that semester stress we are all too familiar with, it’s not time to call it quits. These are the days where we can set our risk horizons. And better yet, we can do it with real people and quality relationships, because it’s in relationships where we find the meat of life. Where we experience that joy that shakes you to your core.

Because we do thrive through connection, I hope the Lariat serves as an outlet for others to connect with one another. This is a place where we report on events and people who matter to you.

Our news section strives to cover anything and everything dealing with Baylor. Whether the Ferrell Center parking is now free, or the University is bringing in more students than ever – we want to be the ones to tell you.

Our opinion section serves as not only the mouthpiece of the Lariat, but of the entire Baylor family. Remember you can send in letters to the editor at lariatletters@baylor.edu.

Our arts and life section serves as the hub for everything entertainment. Here, we feature our fellow Baylor Bears in the arts, theater and music departments, as well as inform you on all of the local Waco happenings.

The sports section will keep you updated with our nationally ranking athletics program, including play-by-play coverage with the Lariat radio, which you can stream live on our website.

These relevant, important stories are presented not only by our writers, but our broadcast reporters with Lariat TV News and our photographers.

All of these sections culminate into what we hope will be your go-to news organization this semester.

Note that we are a nationally ranked organization and are currently considered the fourth best daily college newspaper in the nation by the Associated Collegiate Press. We intend to continue this legacy, connect individuals with each other, and help make your time at Baylor that much better.

Best wishes,

Gavin Pugh

Editor-in-Chief