A farewell from Editor-in-Chief, Sydney Brammer

Dear PLNU students, faculty, staff and beyond,

As I prepare to walk the stage in the Greek Amphitheatre, carry my multimedia journalism degree and shake President Kerry Fulcher’s hand, a smile forms on my face. I began this year with a letter, planting the flag for my intentions and mission for The Point. I have a sense of pride and satisfaction when I say that my team and I lived up to those standards of both celebrating campus life and fostering accountability.

I got an early start in journalism. I began writing for my high school paper my freshman year and worked my way to editor-in-chief by my senior year. When thinking about a career and pursuing higher education, I didn’t blink twice. I loved talking to all kinds of people and telling their stories. Journalism was what I wanted. Four years later, it’s a good feeling to know I never swayed from this calling.

PLNU’s mission is to encourage students to think about who God is calling them to be. As a Christian, I try to be aware of how I’m living my life — intentionally serving others as Jesus would. To me, this transfers to journalism seamlessly. 

Throughout my time here, I have spent hours reading classic literature for the Humanities Honors Program, spent late nights in Bond 159 crafting the newspaper layout, interviewed different people each week for a story, traveled to New Zealand for a LoveWorks mission trip, attempted to start a girls rugby club, coached CrossFit at the weight shed and made many visits to Dean Nelson’s office to talk about life, grief, religion and writing. 

I am a product of all the people and experiences that have shaped me.

When I lay the newspaper out on Sundays, I think of my co-editor last year, Charis Johnston, who taught me so much of what I know. When I introduce myself as a journalist and soften people’s guards, I think of my mentor Dean Nelson, who passed down a gold mine of advice for any situation. When I have the itch to see a different part of the world, I think of my mom, who left the Marshall Islands for the United States at 15 years old and always encouraged me to expand my horizons. 

In my training as a journalist and growth as a Christian, I’ve been challenged to be a deeper thinker, more empathetic and more open-minded. These are values I will carry with me well beyond my four years here.

There wasn’t an ease-into-the-year period for The Point. During the second week of the school year, Charlie Kirk was assassinated. After that, the federal government was shut down, and a Turning Point USA chapter was denied as a campus club. Immigration, war, natural disasters, protests, Cesar Chavez sexual abuse allegations — it was a hefty time to be leading a team of only 11. 

Most student newsrooms have 50 staffers. Here, we operated at a level where each of us took on multiple roles to get news to the community in an accessible and easily understandable way. 

I came into this year with high standards and goals to reach. I went to Joy Russell last year with an idea because I knew she could help me make it possible: As The Point’s first multimedia manager, she managed our social media reel content and the lomabeat.com website. 

We brought “The Breakdown” vision to life — a weekly Instagram reel series that broke down our top story of the week in a personal way. This brought us hundreds of new followers and created more audience engagement. We went from posting once a week to every day.

As I leave this place, I’m not reflecting on the many Canvas assignments, essays and presentations I had to check off the list. I’m reflecting on the people. Thank you to everyone who has given their time to sit with me and remind me of what our call is as followers of Jesus.

I am thankful to all the people I’ve interviewed and those I’ve grabbed coffee with to pick their brains about the journalism world and what it means to be a Christian journalist. I’ve learned 

that this field is far from easy. It takes deeply kind and compassionate people to do this right.

I promise to strive to be this kind of journalist. 

If I’ve learned anything, it’s to be that person who listens to beliefs, perspectives and experiences that differ from your own. It makes you a better person. The art of bearing witness is the essence of our work.

Thank you all for letting me tell your story. I’m better because of it.