Dear readers,
When our Editor-in-Chief, Presley Beal asked me to address our audience (you all), I must admit I was a little caught off-guard. I didn’t really have an idea of what to write or what to share with you. This is only my first semester working for The Tartan. I don’t have a ton of experience working in journalism either. What could I possibly have to share with you all?
I’ve thought long and hard about this the past two weeks racking my brain for what would not only interest you, but also do justice to the amazing, brilliant, talented team I have gotten the chance to work with these past two and a half months. And while that may not be the easiest task to tackle as I’m not sure there are words appropriate enough to give them the flowers they deserve.
But first, let me introduce myself: My name is Jordan Sundel. I am finishing up my last semester here at Gordon and I am so grateful for the path God has set me on here. Honestly, if you had told me two years ago that I would be writing and editing for The Tartan as my internship, I would have called you crazy. Two years ago, I was a Political Science major, with plans of going to law school. And while my dream of practicing law lives on, God set me on a different path toward that goal. In the first semester of my junior year, I realized I didn’t have the passion for political science I thought I once did. In only one and a half semesters remaining, I had to find a major that both interested me but one that was also able to be easily completed, thus I became a Communication Arts major. In the spring of 2025, I now find myself writing to our wonderful readers as the intern for the publication this spring.
One of my favorite parts of getting to work with The Tartan this semester is my new-found appreciation for their work. As a student going through your day, you pass by the full distribution stands holding freshly printed papers across campus, you may pick up a copy and skim through it fascinated by that month’s stories. But as The Tartan intern, I have seen first-hand just how much work filling those stands takes. Countless staff meetings, tons of investigating, research and interviewing by our journalists, hundreds of photographs snapped, hours of editing and planning and that’s all before the actual printing of the paper.
So with that in mind as the calendar flips to Spring, as the snow starts to melt and the weather begins to warm up, I want to leave you with this: as you read this month’s issue I hope you can appreciate the time, effort, and dedication that was poured into it. We love having the opportunity to write and publish articles for the amazing study body we have here at Gordon. This school is a special place, a community built on our love for one another and our faith in The Lord. I couldn’t be more grateful for that community, and I thank God that I found my way to Wenham, MA and that I have the opportunity to write for you.
I know I speak for the rest of The Tartan staff when I say we are looking forward to what the rest of this semester holds for us, but also you. Let’s turn the page on the dark, dreary winter and welcome in the sunshine and happiness of spring starting with this March 2025 issue of The Tartan.
Thank you once again,
Jordan Sundel, Tartan Intern
P.S. Just a little insight into who I am as a person: a few hours after writing this the aforementioned Presley Beal asked me to find a headshot or picture to include with this article. And me being the totally unserious person I am, had to spend ten minutes scrolling my camera roll four years back to find something may work. I still basically look the same, just imagine a patchy beard on my face.
But for real this time, thank you,
Jordan Sundel, Tartan Intern
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