Thankful for: Having a place here

Alysa’s been an intern for half a year and is grateful for all the time she’s spent with the Agenda.

Happy pre-Turkey Day, everyone!

The Agenda team is taking the week off to work on a couple of big projects.

And we’re taking a minute to be thankful on this most grateful week of the year.

So each of our team members wrote you a little note to say thanks.

Today’s note comes from Alysa, the intern we wish we could keep forever. She’s going on to bigger and better things, including grad school and a life in the nation’s Capitol!

But first, she’s got some parting thoughts for you all.

And don’t forget, we’d love to hear from you on our annual survey, which will help guide our work next year.

Please take a moment to chime in!

Take it away, Alysa.

I am the Arizona Agenda’s first-ever editorial intern.

The group at the Agendaverse has spent years building up its audience and developing its daily newsletters. I saw this first from the outside as a fan of the Agenda, and now I get to witness it as part of the team doing the daily grind.

I still think back to the day I first approached Hank, Nicole and Joe at an Arizona Media Association Lunch. I was working the event, finishing my final year as a journalism undergrad, and convinced I sounded like a total fangirl. Thankfully, Joe found my enthusiasm endearing and encouraged me to reach out so I could interview for their summer internship.

Spoiler: I got it! And then I stayed an extra semester.

I went to ASU’s Tempe campus to interview College Republicans United during its anti-Antifa protest. (Matthew Marengo / State Press)

I’ve been the Agenda’s intern for nearly six months, and I still get nervous almost every day — in the best way.

To work with a team this spectacular at what they do is intimidating, but since the moment I joined, they’ve made me feel I have a place here.

It takes being in a job like this to realize all the things you don’t know. There were countless times I would be Googling names as the team discussed Capitol drama or pitched the next story. I felt behind. But as a long-time reader, I realized the deep level of knowledge is what makes this publication as good as it is.

Everyone has been so patient as I learn. From grammar edits to format to style to local political lore, there is so much that goes into a piece before it gets published. I have been shown so much patience and grace from both the Agenda team and its readers — you.

I started by writing the “In Other News” section of the email, and I’ve had the opportunity to try every part of the newsletter — and make things my own. I can’t think of another publication or its readers that would let an intern run a quiz themed around “Love Island.”

As my time at the Agenda comes to an end, it’s been such a pleasure to be trusted by you. As a young female journalist, it’s not hard to be overlooked. From the jump, our readers have made me feel like I belong in this field.

Your replies, your corrections, your encouragement and even your sometimes harsh criticisms have taught me how closely people pay attention to the work we put out. There’s something really special about writing for an audience that is smart, opinionated and genuinely invested in Arizona.

Thank you for pushing me to be better and for celebrating where I am at.